PACIFIC HIGHWAY
Herons Creek to Oxley Highway

Distance sign heading north from Houston Mitchell Dr. Nov 2005.

Between Herons Creek and the Oxley Highway , the Pacific Highway has been constructed largely on a new alignment to the east of the original highway.

Heading south to north, the first realignment is for approximately 1km either side of Bago Road . In this location a new carriageway was constructed to carry southbound on traffic on a much improved alignment while the original highway has been retained and rehabilitated to carry northbound traffic only. This work was completed in March 1990.

Between 1km north of Bago Road and Ryans Road , the highway was relocated onto an improved alignment east of the existing highway. This section of work was opened to traffic in November 1993 as a two-way single carriageway road, the exception being a 2km length of dual carriageway in the vicinity of the junction with Houston Mitchell Drive . The junction between the old highway alignment (now Burrawan Forest Drive ) and Houston Mitchell Drive had been the site of a number of accidents during the 1980s. This section was duplicated as part of a project known as the “Herons Creek Duplication” between November 1997 and the 3 rd of July 1998 .

Between Ryans Road and about 1km north of the Oxley Highway, the Pacific Highway was relocated onto an improved alignment to the east of the original alignment. First stage work involved the construction of a “volleyball” (elevated roundabout) interchange at a new junction between the Pacific and Oxley Highways, as well as some 1.5km of dual carriageway and 4km of single-carriageway, which was opened to traffic in March 1990. Duplication of the remaining single carriageway section was undertaken between November 1997 and the 3 rd of July 1998 as part of the “Herons Creek Duplication” project.

The old alignment of the highway remains largely intact on the western side of the current highway between 1km north of Oxley Hwy and about 1km north of Bago Rd. There is no access between the new alignment and the old alignment at either end of the project, however, it can be accessed via either Oxley Highway or Ryans Rd. South of Ryans Rd the old alignment is now known as “ Pacific Parkway ” and north of Ryans Rd it is “ Burrawan Forest Drive ”. One interesting feature is the remains of the former T-junction with Houston Mitchell Drive . North of Oxley Hwy, the old alignment remains intact as a local road now named ‘ Styles Rd ’.

The northbound carriageway in the vicinity of Bago Rd is on a much inferior alignment to the southbound carriageway, as it was originally the two-way highway and was not realigned as part of the duplication process in 1997 and 1998. However, in November 2004 planning was commenced on a new project that will see a new northbound carriageway constructed parallel to the southbound carriageway. Construction commenced in 2012 and is due for completion in 2013.

Current alignment of Pacific Highway
	Looking north between Bobs Ck Rd and Bago Rd. This carriageway was once the two-way highway and hence is on an inferior alignment to the southbound carriageway. The commotion on the left of the picture is to rescue a truckie who had run his truck off the road and into trees. Nov 2005.
	Distance sign heading south from Bago Rd. Nov 2005.
	Pretty self-explanatory diagrammatic AD sign on Bago Rd approaching the Pacific Hwy. Aug 2004.
	But alas some retard seems to have turned right onto the northbound carriageway and killed himself so now we have this sign which, in my opinion, is not an improvement on the original sign. Nov 2005.
	Looking north from Bago Rd. Note the unnecessary chicane - a remnant from lower design standards of years gone by. Nov 2005.
	Just north of Stills Rd both carriageways are on a new alignment, designed to suit 110km/h travelling speed. Nov 2005.
	Looking north between Stills Rd and Houston Mitchell Dr. Aug 2004.
	Heading north approaching Houston Mitchell Dr. Nov 2005.
	Looking north from Ryans Rd. The road on the left is Burrawan Forest Dr - most of which is the original alignment of the Pacific Hwy. Aug 2004.
	The first mention of the Oxley Hwy junction northbound. Aug 2004.
	Distance sign heading south from Oxley Hwy. Nov 2005.
	ID sign marking the Oxley Highway exit. Aug 2004.
	AD sign eastbound on Oxley Hwy approaching the Pacific Hwy. Aug 2004.
	AD sign westbound on Oxley Hwy approaching the Pacific Hwy. Aug 2004.
	Distance sign heading north from Oxley Hwy. Nov 2005.
	Looking south at the beginning of the dual carriageways just north of the Oxley Hwy interchange, which is visible in the background. Aug 2004.
	Southbound AD sign for Oxley Hwy interchange. Aug 2004.
Burrawan Forest Drive (Pacific Hwy from 1928 until 1990)
	A remnant bridge south of Houston Mitchell Drive, which carried Pacific Highway across Sapling Creek. The bridge was built in 1936 and widened in 1985 according to the plate on it. Nov 2005.
	Heavily forested section south of Houston Mitchell Dr. Nov 2005.
	Looking south at the former junction with Houston Mitchell Drive. Nov 2005.
	Looking south along the old Pacific Highway between Ryans Rd and Houston Mitchell Dr. Nov 2005.
	Council blade signage for "Pacific Pway" which is the new name for the original alignment of the Pacific Hwy south of Ryans Rd. Nov 2005.
	Looking north, north of Ryans Rd. Nov 2005.
	1930s wire mesh fencing between Ryans Rd and Oxley Hwy. Nov 2005.
	Oxley Highway looking east from Burrawan Forest Dr. This section was part of the Pacific Hwy until 1990. Nov 2005.
	Looking east at the former Pacific Hwy/Oxley Hwy split. Pacific Hwy used to head off to the left. Nov 2005.
New northbound carriageway from Herons Creek to Burrowan Forest Drive (2012-13)
	Looking south along the new northbound carriageway from a point approximately 500m north of Bago Road. Photo taken: December 2012.
	Looking north from the same spot showing the old two-way highway/current northbound carriageway and the new carriageway under construction. Photo taken: December 2012.