Sound effect of Pacific Highway upgrade in northern NSW

Safer journeys are on the way in northern NSW with work starting next week to install Audio Tactile Line Marking (ATLM) on the Pacific Highway from Harwood to Tweed Heads.

Transport for NSW ED Partnerships & Integration North Greg Collins said the NSW Government is investing $3.436 million in this safety upgrade through the Saving Lives Accelerated Program.

“Also known as rumble strips, ATLM reduces the risk of head-on and run-off-road crashes by alerting drivers if their vehicle starts to veer out of their lane, and will be installed on almost 100 kilometres of the dual carriageway,” Mr Collins said.

“If a vehicle leaves its lane where ATLM is installed, whether through fatigue, distraction or inattention, the rumble strips make a noise to immediately alert the driver to take corrective action to avoid a serious accident.

“This makes them particularly effective at night or in bad weather, and can reduce the number of crashes by 15 to 25 per cent, saving lives and preventing injuries.

“This work on the Pacific Highway is just one part of the $46 million Saving Lives Accelerated Program, with work underway and upcoming across the state.”

Upcoming work on the Pacific Highway will be carried out from Harwood to Tweed Heads, where a total of 300 kilometres of rumble strips will be installed over 96 kilometres of road.

Crews will be working on this section of the highway from Monday 18 August from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturdays. Some work may be carried out at night between 8pm and 4am. Work is expected to be completed by 19 December 2025, weather permitting.

Lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place during the work.

Work to install ATLM on section one from Karuah to Frederickton and section two from Colombatti to Maclean started in June and is expected to be completed by early November 2025, weather permitting.