It's the news Bilambil Heights residents have been waiting for – temporary one-lane access will be restored to Scenic Drive by the end of this month.
Contractors Australian Marine and Civil Pty Ltd (AMC) and Council are working towards reinstating one lane of the road, under traffic control guidance, by Friday 30 September 2022, weather permitting.
Scenic Drive has been closed since the record floods of February-March 2022 which resulted in 2 landslips on the road.
Following geotechnical reports, AMC has completed initial stabilisation works on the main landslip and the contractor is confident one lane will be able to be opened for use on the eve of the October long weekend, weather permitting.
Council's Director of Engineering David Oxenham said damage to Scenic Drive had been extensive with the repair bill estimated at around $4 million.
"There are 2 slip sites on Scenic Drive which we've had to deal with and we know being able to safely reconnect Bilambil Heights with Tweed Heads will be welcome news for residents," Mr Oxenham said.
"Traffic controllers will be on site to monitor flows and meet the needs of peak demand times, so please be patient and allow extra time for travel.
"There may be times when there will be extended delays while the contractors bring in materials and equipment, but it is important we continue to work on the permanent 2-lane repair on what is one of the Tweed's major flood recovery projects."
Residents are advised that with one lane in use, queuing can be expected in both directions. Parking will no longer be available on either side of the slip works to allow for traffic flow and reduce any safety hazards in the area.
The opening of one lane will be to all vehicles with no load limits in place.
"During the course of the road restoration, there may be longer delays during the week between 9 am and 3 pm but we will be monitoring traffic flows to minimise these where possible," Mr Oxenham said.
"Over the weekend, when we expect traffic volumes to be lower, traffic lights will be in operation.
"By opening one lane to traffic on Scenic Drive, the pressure will come off Terranora Road while the permanent repairs continue.
"We're appealing to all road users to please exercise patience while we undertake these essential works."
These works are part of Council's commitment to maintain a safe and connected local road network.
For more details on these and other roadworks across the Tweed, visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/roadworks.
To learn more about how we build, upgrade and maintain a safe and connected local road network, including how we prioritise road maintenance projects, visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/roads.
