Pre-construction works are currently underway on Tamarind Drive near Canal Bridge and will commence at Fishery Creek Bridge today as part of Ballina Shire Council’s plan to duplicate Fishery Creek Bridge on River Street, and Canal Bridge on Tamarind Drive.
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.
Ballina Council says that duplicating the existing bridges and raising these sections of road will improve evacuation options during flooding events and build a more resilient road network.
Fishery Creek Bridge
Essential water main renewal works will begin adjacent to Fishery Creek Bridge on Thursday, 15 May. Telstra relocation works will follow, starting Friday, 23 May between Fishery Creek Road and Boatharbour Road.
These works will take approximately four weeks to complete from each commencement date, weather permitting, and will be carried out between 7am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 4pm Saturdays if required.
The water main renewal works involve installation of a new water pipeline as part of our commitment to improving our shire’s water assets. Once complete the new water main will improve the reliability of the local water network.
The Telstra relocation works will install a new underground communications conduit, to relocate the existing communications cable beneath River Street.
As part of the works, Council staff and contractors will need to excavate sections of the footpath, which may result in temporary traffic disruptions. The Fishery Creek Bridge Boat Ramp, Boatharbour Road, Fishery Creek Road and River Street will remain open throughout the project. Detours, signage and exclusion zones will be in place to guide motorists and pedestrians and notify the public of any changes during the works.
Commissioning of the new watermain at Canal Bridge, Tamarind Drive will continue on Thursday, 15 May for two days.
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.
Council thanks residents and visitors for their patience and understanding during these essential works.
For more information visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/BallinaBridgeDuplications.
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. 
