🚧 Ocean Drive Duplication Nears Completion in Port Macquarie

Major roadworks in Port Macquarie are wrapping up, with the extensive Ocean Drive Duplication project officially declared complete in December 2025, although some final touch-ups are still ongoing. This monumental $123 million initiative, jointly funded by the NSW Government and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC), has transformed a 3.2-kilometre stretch of Ocean Drive into a modern four-lane corridor, promising reduced congestion and improved travel times for residents and visitors alike.

Over the past few months, crews have been busy completing crucial final stages of the project. This included significant asphalt placement and linemarking works across various sections. Motorists experienced changed traffic conditions and diversions during these critical phases, particularly between Crestwood Drive and Clearwater Crescent, Port Macquarie Golf Club and Maranatha Place, Matthew Flinders Drive and Clearwater Crescent, and from Clearwater Crescent to Maranatha Place.

Specific operations included the final layer of asphalt placement at Jonas Absalom Drive, requiring a road closure at the Ocean Drive intersection, with detours via Sapphire Drive and Emerald Drive. Similar asphalt works were undertaken at Maranatha Place and Crestwood Drive, necessitating contraflow traffic conditions to keep traffic moving. Linemarking, a final aesthetic and safety measure, was carried out during night works, minimising disruption.

Beyond the enhanced traffic flow, the Ocean Drive Duplication project delivers broader community benefits. It features upgraded intersections with new traffic lights, dedicated shared pedestrian and cycling paths, improved crossing points, and vital road safety features. Environmental considerations were also a priority, with the installation of koala-exclusion fencing and a dedicated fauna underpass to protect local wildlife.

This substantial investment in Port Macquarie's infrastructure represents the Council's largest road infrastructure project to date, significantly bolstering the region's transport network.