Apparently a press release by the Hon Ben Franklin MLC dated 25 October 2021 shows two options for the upgrade. One onto the Bruxner Highway to Ballina, the other from Ellis Road onto the Bruxner Highway towards Lismore. Both of these designed by Region North Roads NSW Transport.
To our knowledge no notification was sent to residents of Ellis Road, however, flyers were apparently dropped into some mail boxes in Alstonville. I rang Mr Franklins’ office rather upset with the pathetic photo/design released by him as it had no explanations attached.
I was informed by his office that I should contact NSW Roadworks (one and a half days ago I left two messages – still waiting for a return call) and not to whinge to Mr Franklin’s office, and was promptly cut off. Obviously, Mr Franklin liked press and photo opportunities with then Minister Melinda Pavey before the last election, but does not like complaints now.
How can anyone who previously designed the chaos of entry/exit to Ballina/Alstonville be trusted to design another attempt to fix these problems? Closing date for submissions was 12 November. We’ve been mushroomed again!
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
