One of the Shire’s biggest tourist attractions is set to get a significant upgrade, with the addition of a shared pedestrian and cycleway up to the Byron Lighthouse.
For years, locals have watched with brows creased in concern as visitors elected to walk or jog to and from the lighthouse along Lighthouse Road.
The absence of a designated footpath for most of this stretch forced these pedestrians to walk along the road or shoulder for much of the journey, and to cross dangerously in front of traffic at multiple points.
Now, Byron Shire Council has endorsed plans for an 850m shared pedestrian and cycle path stretching from Brooke Rd up to the lighthouse precinct near the Tallows lookout.
Running through the picturesque Walgun State Byron Conservation Area, the shared path will include three new pedestrian crossings.
There will also be new signage and line markings, and the speed limit for cars travelling on Lighthouse Road will be reduced from 50km/hr to 30km/hr to facilitate safe crossing for pedestrians.
Get Active grant
Council has applied for a ‘Get Active NSW’ grant to fund the project, the cost of which is expected to extend well into the millions.
It applied for the same grant to fund the project last financial year, but was unsuccessful, and has made changes to the new application based on feedback from Transport for NSW.
Council has also made an application for ‘Get Active NSW’ funding to help it pay for a shared bike and pedestrian path on the main street of Bangalow.
Works will include the construction of a 2.5m wide concrete path with associated drainage, landscaping, crossings, signs, lines and retaining walls.
The existing handrail on the pedestrian bridge over Byron Creek will be replaced with a bike-safe full barrier fence.
The results of these funding applications should be known in the first quarter of the new year.
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