Cudgen Road Tunnel
{{Short description|Tunnel in New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox tunnel
|name = Cudgen Road Tunnel
|image =
|caption =
|location = Stotts Creek, Tweed Valley, New South Wales, Australia
|coordinates = {{coord|-28.279181|153.520100|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=title,inline|format=dms}}
|route = {{AUshield|NSW|M1}} Pacific Motorway
|status = Open
|start =
|end =
|startwork =
|opened = 4 August 2002
|close =
|owner = Transport for NSW
|operator =
|traffic = Road
|character = Dual carriageway motorway
|vpd =
|construction = Abigroup
|length = {{convert|134|m}}
|lanes = 4
|speed = {{convert|110|km/h}}
|hielevation =
|lowelevation =
|height =
|width =
|grade = }}
The Cudgen Road Tunnel is a twin-tube road tunnel that forms part of the Pacific Motorway (M1) located near Stotts Creek in the Tweed Valley of New South Wales, Australia. The twin {{convert|134|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} tunnels are illuminated inside with northbound traffic using one tunnel and southbound traffic in the other. The tunnels pass under the Cudgen Road and the Condong Range.{{cite web |url=http://www.ats.org.au/index.php/resources/past-projects/48-historical-projects/229-yelgun-bypass-cudgen-road-tunnel |title=Yelgun Bypass – Cudgen Road Tunnel |publisher=Australasian Tunnelling Society |date=2016 |access-date=26 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127021917/http://www.ats.org.au/index.php/resources/past-projects/48-historical-projects/229-yelgun-bypass-cudgen-road-tunnel |archive-date=27 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}
Features
It was built by Abigroup as part of the Yelgun to Chinderah upgrade of the Pacific Highway, opening on 4 August 2002.[https://web.archive.org/web/20021210095828/http://www.abigroup.com.au/html_files/Projects_Civil_Roads.htm Yelgun to Chinderah Freeway] Abigroup It was jointly funded by the New South Wales and Federal governments.{{cite web |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectsregional/pacifichighwayupgrade/programdetails/yelguntochinderah.html |title=Yelgun to Chinderah, Pacific Highway upgrade |work=Roads & Traffic Authority |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=22 April 2009 |accessdate=17 October 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604145406/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/majorconstructionprojectsregional/pacifichighwayupgrade/programdetails/yelguntochinderah.html |archivedate=4 June 2009}} It is the first tunnel to be built as part of a rural road project in NSW.{{cite web |url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/downloads/rta_yelgun_chinderah_opening.pdf |title=Yelgun to Chinderah Freeway Official Opening 4 August 2002 |work=Roads & Traffic Authority |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=4 August 2002|accessdate=7 March 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015093500/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/downloads/rta_yelgun_chinderah_opening.pdf |archivedate=15 October 2009}}
This alignment of the Yelgun to Chinderah motorway was aimed at avoiding the loss of prime cane land, avoiding flood-prone areas and preserving important local animal habitat. The best route was through the Condong Range. A tunnel was chosen instead of a road cutting because it was sympathetic with the surrounding environment by removing the visual impact of a road cutting.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Australian Roads|New South Wales}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Road infrastructure in regional New South Wales}}
Category:Highway 1 (Australia)
Category:Road tunnels in Australia
Category:Tunnels completed in 2002