With the aim of improving road safety with a focus on vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, the Mid Richmond Three Villages Cycleway project has received a financial boost.
The Australian Government’s Road Safety Program and the NSW government, have chipped in with $5,392,000 in the hopes of minimising the occurrence of severe injuries and fatalities.
New cycle paths recently opened in the Northern Rivers have enhanced the community of both residents and visitors.
Connecting Evans Head, Woodburn and Broadwater
At a cost of around $20 million, the Three Villages Cycleway project is designed to connect Evans Head, Woodburn and Broadwater, and will be a great boon for tourists and locals alike.
Some sections have already been constructed and designs for the remaining sections are being finalised.
This funding will allow the installation of a shared path on Woodburn-Evans Head Road, joining the Ray Jeffrey Memorial Cycleway already in place from the Riverside Retirement Village, Doonbah.
Constructing 5.8 kilometres of shared pathway
Richmond Valley Council’s General Manager, Vaughan Macdonald, said the funding will go towards the construction of 5.8 kilometres of shared pathway, designed for pedestrians and cyclists.
‘This investment is vital for enhancing community connectivity, encouraging active lifestyles, and is crucial in fostering closer ties between neighbouring communities.
‘By linking our villages with shared pathways, we are creating stronger connections – not just physically, but socially and environmentally.
‘We’re excited to see residents of all ages and abilities enjoying these spaces for walking, cycling and connecting with each other,’ said Mr Macdonald.
Vital links to schools, parks, businesses and community hubs
The Three Villages Cycleway project aligns with the Mid Richmond place plans and the Community Strategic Plan. Once completed, the pathways will provide vital links to schools, parks, businesses and other community hubs to enhance accessibility for all residents and visitors.
The pathway will create a 2.5-metre-wide shared user path and includes pedestrian refuges, kerb, gutters and ramps, property access reconstruction, drainage, culverts, new bridge treatments, safety barriers and landscaping.
The project is set to begin soon and should take around 12 months to complete.
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