Salt Village is open to the public despite being the home base for this weekend’s Battle of the Border Cycle Festival and Grand Fondo Social ride.
Race organising spokesman Mike Crawley said the three-day event will encompass cyclists of all ages and abilities from the elite to the social riders and had attracted record numbers.
He said more than 500 riders were expected to sign-on at Mantra on Friday night.
The event starts with road racing in and around Murwillumbah on Saturday, continues with social rides and competitive events on Sunday on the Tweed Coast and concludes with a criterium around the Salt streets on Monday.
Mr Crawley said the Battle is expected to generate $800,000 for small businesses, communities and tourism in the local area.
However he said there would be some road closures and delays to accommodate the racing and urged everyone to be patient.
On Saturday, Murwillumbah’s Queensland Road will be disrupted between 6am and 5pm while on Sunday the Salt district will be home to both competitive and social riders.
“But all Salt shops will be open and car parking is available on Sunday and Monday despite the racing,” he said.
“There are road changes on Casuarina way from Tweed Valley Way and access to Salt is via Cudgen Rd on Sunday 6am to 1pm,” he said.
“The roads will have bike races on them and we ask you to avoid where possible.”
However that doesn’t mean Salt won’t be open for business.
“Still come for coffee, still come for lunch, still come for dinner…this is very important and we have reserved parking for non-bike riders at Salt,” Mr Crawley said.
He said as well as enjoying the Salt facilities it will be a chance to see some spectacular racing.
“We have a large number of elite riders from across Australia racing,” Mr Crawley said.
“We also have strong national road series teams attending from Victoria, Sydney and South Australia.”
Road changes to Salt
Destination Tweed Road Race Sunday – 6am to 2pm Salt Park, Bells Bvd – Casuarina Way – Tweed Coast Rd – Plantation Rd – Cudgen Rd – Duranbah Rd – Eviron Rd – Clothiers Creek Rd
Traffic on these roads will be disrupted under a rolling road closure permit, escorted by Police and support vehicle convoys. Motorists must stay behind a group of cyclists racing and not overtake until there is an additional lane to do so. All residents that need to access Casuarina Way from Bells Bvd – Danielle Drive will have to give way to racing and when a race is coming home for a finishing sprint to Bells Bvd wait until the entire race has passed before gaining access to the road. Traffic entering from Cabartia will be diverted to Cudgen Road.
