Further progress made on Kempsey-Armidale Road (K2A) restoration
Further progress is being made on the restoration of K2A to pre-disaster condition with the calling of Request for Tenders for the project.
The Request for Tenders for the design and construct project, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW State Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, has been sent to the short-listed applicants from the Expression of Interest process who were announced in July 2025.
The three shortlisted applicants were invited to prepare detailed proposals for the main construction works. These proposals will be carefully reviewed through a formal evaluation process. Council will support the applicants as they develop their submissions, with the process expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2026. Following formal approvals, the successful applicant is expected to be announced in mid-2026.
The project is one of the most ambitious road projects undertaken by a local Council in NSW.
This essential initiative will restore about 46km of Kempsey Road and 5.1km of Lower Creek Road, reversing the damage caused by devastating natural disasters, including bushfires in 2019 and floods in 2020 and 2022.
The project aims to:
• Restore essential road access and function through pavement and batter restoration works in line with pre-disaster condition
• Improve resilience and reduce erosion risk via reinstatement of effective drainage infrastructure
• Reduce long-term maintenance through restoration that meets contemporary engineering standards.
K2A is a vital corridor connecting Armidale to the coast, supporting local communities, agriculture and tourism in both the Armidale and Kempsey regions. The road is currently closed between Big Hill and Blackbird Flat, except for essential travel by residents, emergency and essential services.
This project is a critical step towards rebuilding vital infrastructure and ensuring a resilient future for the region.