Bridge Duplications including Evacuation Routes

Ballina Shire Council has started preliminary investigation works at Fishery Creek Bridge, on River Street, and Canal Bridge, on Tamarind Drive, as part of their plan to duplicate both bridges. 

The project also involves raising portions of the roadway on sections of River Street, between Teven Interchange and Ballina Island, and Tamarind Drive, between Ballina Island and Cumbalum Interchange. 

Duplicating the existing bridges and raising these sections of road will improve evacuation options during flooding events and build a more resilient road network.  

Once constructed, the duplicated bridges will provide dual lanes in and out of Ballina Island, improve traffic flow and increase the roads' capacity to comfortably cater for future traffic demands. 

Pre-construction work has started and will continue during 2024. This will include gathering geotechnical samples using barges and from the roadway at both Ballina bridges. These early investigations will involve:
•    Footpath closures and pedestrian detours. Please follow on site signage.
•    A marine barge will be present within both waterways. The boat ramp and navigation of the creek will remain open. Please follow on site navigation markers.
•    Construction noise between 7am- 6pm, Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm Saturdays. 

Council will then move into the design and approval phase, with bridge construction anticipated to start in 2025.  

This Council project will be completed across three years and has been funded with $40 million from the Australian Government through the Emergency Response Fund administered by NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-2023.

The duplication of the bridges will increase the traffic capacity of these roads and improve their ability to support evacuations in response to major flood events.  As well as duplicating the bridges, this project will provide the initial stages of a road raising program which also improve the resilience of these arterial roads when they operate as evacuation routes.

Project includes:
•    Construct two new bridges adjacent to the existing Fishery Creek Bridge and Canal Bridge to create four-lane accesses to and from Ballina Island. 
•    Expand the approach roads to match the four-lane bridges. 
•    Improve pedestrian and cycleway links to cater for more active transport across the waterways.
•    Raise sections of roadway between River Street at the Teven Interchange and Tamarind Drive at the Cumbalum Interchange.

Ballina Shire Council will continue to inform the community at each project phase. Please subscribe below for project updates.

Fishery Creek Bridge (River Street) concept designs

 

Canal Bridge (Tamarind Dr) concept designs

 

Note: these are concept designs only. Final detailed design plans will be developed within the design stage of the project. 

 

Project stages

 

More information

Please contact, Brett Dyki, Project Management Office, Ph 1300 864 444.

Resources

• Tamarind Drive Duplication project
• River Street Duplication project