Can the heart of Coffs Harbour survive the bypass?

The $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour Bypass is set to be complete by the end of the year. 

So what happens to the 10.2km bypassed section of the highway that cuts through the heart of the city centre, currently heaving with traffic, tourists headed north and trucks delivering goods? 

And how will the powers that be ensure that less traffic doesn’t lead to tumbleweeds blowing through the city's retail and business heart?

In an attempt to “stitch the city back together” and avoid a drop in visitor numbers, the City of Coffs Harbour has visions of turning the old highway into a “High Street”.

❓What happened:  At the November 2025 meeting, councillors voted to endorse the first stage of a long-term plan that - if implemented - would see the reimagining of the 10km stretch between the interchanges at Englands Road and Korora Hill.

It would involve increased tree cover as part of a continuous green corridor, foot and bike paths, pedestrian crossings, seating, bus stops and improved road surfaces and lighting.

• “There’s an opportunity here to stitch our city back together, as the old highway passes through the CBD and dissects east from west,” Mayor Nikki Williams said in a statement.

“We’re setting the bar high – to make this corridor attractive and enjoyable for all users, pedestrians, drivers, riders, shoppers, locals and tourists.”

The 10km stretch of the Pacific Highway that will be bypassed includes a mix of commercial, light industrial, residential and green space.

✍️ Design to come: For the project to proceed council will need to secure funding for initial streetscape and concept designs. 

• “Worldwide, famous roads include the Champs-Élysées in Paris, Broadway in New York and Abbey Road in London – all people-friendly corridors,” City Planning and Communities Acting Director Ian Fitzgibbon said in a statement. “Our challenge, and opportunity, is to imagine a scaled version of a truly great High Street for a major regional centre.”

💰Who is paying for it? The Highway Bypass Integration Committee and City Centre Masterplan Committee have already agreed to allocate $50,000 each toward the design phase.  At the council meeting, councillors voted that staff advocate to Transport for NSW for funding of $100,000.

Thumbnail: Stretch of the Pacific Highway through Coffs Harbour is soon to be bypassed. Image supplied City of Coffs Harbour.