Byron Shire Council’s decision to close outbound traffic on Mullumbimby Road, including on weekends for four months, has raised serious concerns across the community. Questions have been raised regarding why a night work schedule has not been implemented to mitigate the inherent risks that will impact the safety of pedestrians and drivers, the economy of local businesses, and the further degradation of minor roads, which will service the extensive detour traffic.
‘The changes come as Council moves onto the next stage (Stage 2) of the Mullumbimby Road upgrade between The Saddle Road and Gulgan Road,’ said BSC in a press release.
Not enough funding
‘Night works are not feasible. This is for a range of reasons such as the type of work, and the necessary safety precautions for staff and plant operators and of course, budget (i.e. delivering this part of the project at night is not possible within the funds available). Night-shift delivery would increase the project budget by approximately 33 per cent,’ a BSC spokesperson told The Echo.
However, local business operator Sharon McGrath told The Echo that, ‘Council has not released any proof of budget and costings analysis, nor the construction program to explain why it isn’t feasible.’
‘Two independent construction consultancies have stated that the work CAN be completed at night. That scope was provided to Council; however, they have not replied with any comprehensive documentation to justify the claims of cost, scheduling, or work health and safety (WHS) issues,’ she said.
‘The alternate program of works presented to Council proposes to widen short sections under night works (one lane operating under alternating traffic control), and reopen both lanes during the day. Then, as work progresses and the road narrows, use the widened section to create a temporary diversion of the two road lanes to allow safe work to continue behind traffic barriers on the side. This is precisely how they managed to keep two lanes of traffic flowing when they worked on the McAuleys Lane intersection.’
Council has been clear that emergency vehicles and school buses will continue to use the route and traffic signals will be in place to stop traffic for emergency services, 24 hours a day.
However, this pushes the 17,800 vehicles per day, including heavy trucks, onto winding, narrow roads, including Myocum Road and Coolamon Scenic Drive.
‘McAuleys Lane is already being used as a detour by heavy vehicles. This outcome was predicted and raised with staff at the McAuleys Lane community meeting convened by Council on 11 June,’ Ms McGrath explained.
‘At that meeting, residents were assured that VMS boards displaying “No Heavy Vehicles” would be installed. To date, this has not occurred.’
Currently there are no VMS boards in place, the standard signage at the Mullumbimby Road end is lying in the grass, there is no signage at all on the Myocum Road end, and the bridge signage, which has a one tonne limit, is faded and defaced.
Though BSC has not released detailed figures on the budget for the roadworks they said night works would be a 33 per cent increase on the existing budget, ~$900,000. Locals have highlighted the question of damage and costs of repair to alternative routes.
While BSC has said they will maintain the alternative routes, the impact of trucks and extra cars will be significant.
‘Who is going to pay for the repairs to Myocum Road and Coolamon Scenic Drive?,’ Ms McGrath asked.
‘Heavy vehicles are already using alternate routes such as Coolamon Scenic Road (Tunnel Road), Tyagarah Road, and McAuleys Lane to avoid the existing delays on Stage 1 Mullumbimby Road works; in many cases breaching bridge limits and creating challenging, dangerous road conditions.
‘Stage 2 should not have been scheduled until sufficient grant funding was available to make night works a reality, thereby avoiding a four-month, one-way detour.’
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