Waterfall Way
Project overview
Transport for NSW is delivering vital road improvements along Waterfall Way from the Pacific Highway at Raleigh to Armidale. The Waterfall Way between the Pacific Highway and Dorrigo is a beautiful and popular tourist route as well as being a busy route for larger vehicles travelling west to Armidale.

Project information
Background
The Waterfall Way is located in northern NSW and extends 170 kilometres from the Pacific Highway at Raleigh to the New England Highway at Armidale.
The Waterfall Way is an important transport corridor, particularly for the timber and agricultural industries.
Waterfall Way connects rural communities to the urban centres of Coffs Harbour and Armidale and is also a tourist route passing waterfalls on the Dorrigo Mountain and provides access to the Dorrigo National Park.
Waterfall Way draft corridor strategy
Transport for NSW in collaboration with Transport for NSW developed the Waterfall Way Draft Corridor Strategy. This draft sets out the proposed strategic vision to manage and guide development of the Waterfall Way road corridor to improve safety, traffic efficiency and sustainability. There is no commitment to, or funding for, proposed actions identified in this draft.
More information about the Waterfall Way draft corridor strategy is available from the Draft corridor strategies - Northern webpage.
Road safety review
Transport for NSW carried out a safety review of the Waterfall Way (PDF, 3.24Mb) in 2014. The report is a summary of investigations completed as part of a thorough road safety and road user behaviour analysis of Waterfall Way. The recommendations look at short and medium-long term strategies to address the different needs of the community and transport industry.
The review focused on the 40 kilometre stretch of road from Tyringham Street, Dorrigo to the junction of the Pacific Highway and looks at ways of improving road safety along the route. It does not examine bypassing the Bellingen township.
Project documents
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Community updates
- May 2023 community update (PDF, 215.08 KB)
Variable message sign installation on Waterfall Way from Monday 29 May 2023. - October 2022 community update
Work starts on Waterfall Way, 60 kilometres east of Armidale, from 5 October.
August 2022 community update
Temporary traffic changes on Waterfall Way from August to the end December 2022.August 2021 community update
Waterfall Way improvement program.March 2020 community update
Waterfall Way improvement program.August 2016 community update
Community update on projects along Waterfall Way.December 2015 community update
Community update on projects and haulage along Waterfall Way.May 2015 community update
Project haulage on Waterfall Way.September 2014 community update
Work underway along Waterfall Way.March 2014 community update
Waterfall Way safety review and program update.December 2013 community update
Waterfall Way works program update.April 2013 community update
Pacific Highway to Connells Creek.March 2012 community update
Waterfall Way works program update.
Media releases
- 19 March 2022
Waterfall Way reopens after massive landslip.
27 August 2021
Community feedback sought on Waterfall Way.- August 2021
Safety improvements ahead for Dorrigo Mountain.
June 2021
Road safety in focus for Waterfall Way.June 2021
Another $6.5 million upgrade for Waterfall Way about to start.May 2021
Safety improvements ahead for Dorrigo Mountain.May 2021
Work powers on to restore Waterfall Way.April 2021
Crews work to re-open Waterfall Way.October 2020
Major Waterfall Way stability work complete east of Dorrigo.December 2019
Waterfall Way works.
Letters to householder
- April 2021 letter to householder
Safety improvement work west of Bellingen.
September 2020 letter to householder
Field investigations west of Bellingen.June 2015 letter to householder
Closure information.December 2011 letter to householder
Waterfall Way - Pacific Highway to Connells Creek.
Community information sessions
- September 2014 community information session presentation
Presentation on the results of the Waterfall Way Road Safety Review.
September 2014 notes from the community information session at Bellingen
Notes from the community information session at Bellingen.September 2014 notes from the community information session at Dorrigo
Notes from the community information session at Dorrigo.June 2014 community information session presentation
Feedback summary and traffic data presentation at the community information session held at Bellingen and Dorrigo.June 2014 community information session presentation
Safe systems presentation at the community information session held at Bellingen and Dorrigo.June 2014 community information session presentation
Crash data analysis presentation at the community information session held at Bellingen and Dorrigo.
Community information material
- Value Management Workshop Community Participant Nomination Form
- May 2011 route options display
The two route options are now on public display seeking further feedback and discussions with key stakeholders before making a final decision.
Action plans
- May 2015 updated action plan
Nambucca Heads to Urunga Pacific Highway upgrade updated Action Plan. September 2014 action plan
Nambucca Heads to Urunga Pacific Highway upgrade.
REF documents
Pacific Highway to Connells Creek route options development report
- April 2013 route options development report
- Appendix A - Option A
Concept.
Appendix A - Option B
Concept.Appendix B
Preliminary Environmental Investigation.Appendix C
Preliminary Ecological Assessment Part A – Flora And Fauna Investigations.Appendix D
Preliminary Noise and Vibration Assessment.Appendix E
Preliminary Landscape Character and Visual Impact Assessment.Appendix F
Preliminary Acid Sulfate Soil Management Plan.Appendix G
Sediment Basin Design.
Submissions report
- October 2012 public submissions report
Submissions report, Waterfall Way, Pacific Highway to Connells Creek.
Other reports
- October 2015 Agenda and recommendation report
- July 2015 Bellingen Main Street Plan
- September 2014 Road safety review
Waterfall Way - Pacific Highway to Dorrigo.
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Email:region.north@transport.nsw.gov.au
Mail: Transport for NSW, PO Box 576 Grafton NSW 2460