Council invests in critical bridge upgrades for disaster support

BALLINA Shire Council has invested in critical flood safety infrastructure, with work to begin on two major bridges and evacuation routes.

The council has awarded the contract to Quickway Constructions for the duplication of Canal Bridge on Tamarind Drive and Fishery Creek Bridge on River Street.

The bridges play a critical role in connecting communities and providing safe passage during emergencies.

Upgrades will enhance road safety, reduce congestion and ensure more reliable access for residents during floods, bushfires and other natural disasters.

“These bridges are lifelines for our community during major flood events and strengthening them has been a long-standing priority for council,” mayor Sharon Cadwallader said.

“The duplications will ease congestion, improve travel times and deliver safer, more reliable access for residents every day, and critically during emergencies.

“This investment will make a real difference to the safety and confidence of our community.”

Work will include expanding access to four lanes for travel to and from Ballina Island.

There are also plans to expand the approach roads to match the four-lane bridges and improve the pedestrian and cycleway links to cater for more active transport across the waterways.

The council’s project manager, Brett Dyki, said early works saw water mains and underground communication services relocated at Canal Bridge in June.

As part of the planning phase, the council exhibited the Review of Environmental Factors for each bridge project to seek community feedback, with the results now available on its website.

“The REF process allows us to take a close look at how these projects could affect the environment and local community, and plan carefully to minimise any impacts,” Dyki said.

The bridge duplication project is supported by $40 million in funding from the federal government’s Emergency Response Fund.

It is administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program.

The work will start in February and is expected to be finished in the second half of 2027.

To read the environmental report on the two bridge projects, visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/BallinaBridgeDuplications