Community call out to help shape the future traffic flow

BALLINA Shire Council is seeking community feedback on plans to upgrade North Creek Road and build a new bridge to better manage growing traffic.

The project involves reconstructing, widening and raising North Creek Road between Forest Oak Boulevard in North Ballina and Skennars Head Road.

It would create a more direct link from the airport to Lennox Head and aims to ease congestion on The Coast Road. Plans also include a shared cycle and pedestrian path and construction of a new bridge across North Creek.

The original bridge was closed to traffic in August 1970 due to rotting wooden piles near the waterline and was never properly repaired.

Council traffic engineer Patrick Night said the plan is designed to cater for increased road use over the next 20 years.

“Modelling predicts that North Creek Road will carry traffic volumes of 14,162 vehicles per day by the year 2036 and this project aims to alleviate congestion along The Coast Road,” he said.

“Further road network traffic modelling is underway to predict volumes to the year 2046, with this work due to be completed in late 2025.

“This network modelling will also inform future decision-making regarding this project.”

Community feedback will be reported to a future council meeting, where councillors will consider draft documents, landowner responses and submissions before deciding whether to proceed with and fund the next stage.

Submissions close Wednesday, September 24 and can be made to yoursayballina.com.au/North-Creek-Roadand-Bridge.