ANOTHER milestone has been reached on the Banora Point Pacific Hwy Upgrade project, with northbound lanes opening Monday.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday joined Richmond MP Justine Elliot, Tweed MP Geoff Provest and members of the Banora Point project team to open the northbound lanes of the upgrade.

Mr Albanese said the Federal Government made the promise of the upgrade prior to the 2007 election and now it had delivered.

"I congratulate Justine Elliot for her determination and commitment on getting this project delivered," Mr Albanese said.

"Once fully completed, the improvements made as part of this multi-million upgrade will deliver smoother, safer driving conditions for the 55,000 vehicles which use this section of highway each day.

"The Banora Point project is part of the ongoing upgrade and full duplication of the Pacific Hwy, the most expensive and complex road project ever undertaken in Australia."

Mrs Elliot said it was good to see Mr Albanese at the site yesterday to see first-hand what the Federal Government delivered.

"It's a fantastic project and such a community victory," she said. "This will cut down on the drive time for residents."

Ms Elliot said everyone involved should be proud of the achievements.

Mr Provest thanked the workers for delivering the project to benefit the Tweed Heads community but he also took the opportunity to take a swing at the Federal Government about Pacific Hwy funding changes announced as part of the Federal Budget earlier this week.

"There has been a loss in funding," Mr Provest said.

"The funding had changed from 80% provided from the Federal Government during the state Labor Government to 50% now."

Mr Provest's comments at the opening of the northern lanes drew the ire of both Mr Albanese and Mrs Elliot.

"I think it was a bit embarrassing the way Mr Provest carried on," Mrs Elliot said after the opening.

Mr Provest said he was "merely pointing out that 500 people have been killed on the Pacific Hwy over the past 15 years and that Federal Budget funding cuts will inevitably lead to further casualties".

The Federal Government said further funding would be provided if it was matched dollar-for-dollar by the NSW Government, arguing that there had always been a 50/50 split.

Mr Provest pointed to the fact the Federal Gov- ernment had provided more than 90% of the funding for the $359 million Banora Point upgrade.

"Albanese has moved the goal posts and put an end to any hope of the Pacific Hwy being fully duplicated by 2016 as promised, yet there hasn't been so much as a whimper from Justine Elliot. The so called 50/50 formula effectively cuts the Federal contribution by $2.3 billion."

Mr Albanese defended the Federal Government's change in the funding arrangement.

"It's a shared commitment, it should be a shared funding arrangement. You can't have a coalition government that promises one thing before the election and then expect the federal government to pay for it."

He said the Federal Government committed more funds to the Pacific Hwy than the previous federal coalition government.