Field investigations, designed to identify constraints and opportunities, will be undertaken at various stages during the study period. Some of the key factors that need to be assessed are:

• What effect would a route option have on the environment?
• What are the potential benefits and costs in terms of economic, social, environmental, and functional issues associated with the route options?

Field investigations have been conducted in the original and extended study areas. Further field investigations are being undertaken as part of the environmental assesment and concept design development for the preferred route. Investigations will consider:

• Road safety.
• Traffic and transport.
• Topography, geology and soil investigations.
• Land use.
• Social.
• Noise, vibration and air.
• Plants and animals.
• Water quality, flood management and drainage.
• Economic.
• Visual and landscape.
• Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage.