Rifle Range Road upgrade complete

THE $4.1 million upgrade of Rifle Range Road in Bangalow is now complete, reopening the key intersection with Lismore Road and promising improved safety and flood resilience for the community.

The project included raising the road, rebuilding the intersection, installing culverts under Lismore Road and widening it to create a right turning lane into Rifle Range Road

New shared paths were also added to connect two new bus bays to Tristania Street, as well as signage and safety barriers.

Work began on the project in May and was due to be complete in August, but was delayed due to wet weather.

Traffic on Lismore Road was reduced to one lane for much of the period.

The project was jointly funded by the NSW Government, the

Australian Government and Byron Shire Council.

Council’s director of infrastructure services Phil Holloway apologised for the delay and the inconvenience to local residents and road users during the construction period.

Local resident Lauren Julian, who represents Bangalow on Council’s Place Planning Collective, said the upgrade had been more than a decade in the planning.

Along with longtime locals Clare Hopkins and Jenny Bird, she applied for grants and advised council on such things as the design of the bus shelters.

“The creek constantly flooded before and sometimes the road near the pre-school flooded at the same time, and you were either flooded in or out,” she said.

“At least if you have one side that you can access you can work around it.

“I have seen the water go down and it seems to be working.”

Ms Julian said the works were also designed to complement the planned expansion of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail through Bangalow.