A Chinderah company has started work on a new road aimed at providing a much-needed second direct entrance to South Tweed from the Pacific Highway.
The major South Tweed business area is currently only accessed directly from the Sexton Hill interchange or across Boyds Bay bridge from Tweed.
SEE Civil will work on the new $17 million Kirkwood Road extension project – officially launched last week.
The project will provide an exit from, and entrance to, the southbound lanes of the Pacific Highway, creating a more efficient road network for Tweed residents and greater access to the Tweed Heads South business area along Minjungbal Drive.
Tweed Shire Council is the primary funding body for the project, with $10 million invested while the New South Wales State Government through Roads and Maritime Services (RMS, formerly the RTA) will pay the balance of up to $7 million.
Tweed Mayor Cr Barry Longland was joined by NSW Member for Tweed Geoff Provest and Tweed Heads Chamber of Commerce President Rory Curtis and members of local residents groups for the official sod-turning-ceremony which kicks off the expected 15 month project scheduled for completion by June 2013.
The ceremony marks a long process of lobbying by the Tweed Heads Chamber of Commerce, Banora Point and district Residents Association and Tweed Residents and Ratepayers Associations.
“About bloody time,” Rory Curtis said at the ceremony after being convinced not to use a front-end loader to turn the first sod of the highly anticipated link road.
“This extension is set to be a strategic link in the arterial road network for Tweed Heads South that will relieve the traffic congestion in the area,” Councillor Longland said.
“The design will also make it more convenient for motorists to access local businesses, reinforcing the area’s status as the main commercial area in the Tweed.
“This is only the first stage of the Kirkwood Road extension which will eventually become a significant east-west corridor.
“Planning is complete and approvals are in place for stage two of the extension to the west and we are again calling on the NSW Government to assist by providing the $30 million in funding needed to complete the project.”
Rory Curtis said the Council’s decision to fast track the extension after consultation with the community on the Lower Tweed Master Plan was the correct one.
“The Tweed Chamber of Commerce congratulates Tweed Shire Council and the RMS on identifying the need to bring forward the construction of the Kirkwood Road East link road,” Mr Curtis said.
“A high proportion of vehicle traffic visiting the South Tweed central business district comes from the north and this link road will alleviate the issues with the northern interchange roundabout at the Banora Point exit.
“The Tweed Chamber is keen for state and local authorities to finalise the western link road and overpass to join up with the eastern link so Banora and Terranora traffic can safely access the CBD and offer some relief to the congested local road networks.
“The road works bring employment opportunities and we are pleased to note that local firm SEE Civil has been awarded the contract to construct this essential piece of infrastructure,” Mr Curtis said.
Work hours will be from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays, with minor delays expected at times on Dry Dock Road, Sunshine Avenue and Kirkwood Road west of Minjungbal Drive.
