Shared path to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians

CYCLISTS and pedestrians will benefit from a new $3.55 million shared path constructed by Ballina Shire Council between Park Lane and Cooper Close at Lennox Head.

It is designed to improve connectivity between the town centre and outlying residential areas in Sanctuary Village and Fig Tree Hill Drive.

The work involves the installation of the three-metre-wide path for approximately 2.1km at locations along Byron Street, Byron Bay Road and Cooper Close.

There will also be the installation of pedestrian fencing for approximately 200m along Byron Street and a pedestrian refuge on Fern Street.

Drainage upgrades, with kerb and gutter adjustment to the bus bay, will also take place on Byron Street.

“The shared path alignment was chosen following extensive community consultation in 2023, where four route options were proposed as part of the consultation process,” a council spokesperson said.

“The current design was found to be most favourable in terms of road safety, environment, ecology and cultural heritage, town planning approvals and timing, and project cost.

The first phase of the project should be finished in time for the Christmas school holidays in December.

There will be traffic delays during part of the work with the third phase of the project to be finished by March.

It is jointly funded by the state and federal government under the Road Safety Program.