I’m not surprised that Byron Council’s decision to progress the mis-named ‘mini-bypass’ is encountering some opposition from dug-in trenches and vested interests. However, in an imperfect world, this initiative represents good value for money. Origin–destination surveys show that it will hugely reduce congestion at the crucial Lawson-Jonson Street roundabout.
It’s by no means a panacea for all of the Bay’s traffic problems, but in conjunction with making Shirley Street two lanes eastbound and achieving two lanes eastbound across the existing rail crossing (pushed for by our esteemed, erstwhile Cr, Buck$), it will help.
It will also open up the opportunity to relocate long-distance coaches (and their attendant hostel mini-buses) to the western side of the train station. Council actually had funding to do this once but dropped the ball. The current coach terminal is an accident waiting to happen.
It was gratifying to get a positive response from the chamber of commerce. They acknowledge that after 20 years of talking, Byron Council is actually going to do something.
Also thank you Don Page for your promised support of state funding. All we need is to be able to acquire the land and hopefully get assistance to install boom gates and lights when we get our train back.
Richard Staples, Byron councillor, Talofa
