Tweed Coast Road closure extended

02 September 2016

Sewer main slows stormwater installation

Council has extended the closure of Tweed Coast Road at Pottsville, between Boronia and Elanora avenues, as the task to install new stormwater drainage pipes beneath the road slowed due to an unmapped sewer main blocking the way forward.

On Wednesday, workers had to shut down a nearby sewer pump station and empty the sewer main before cutting the main to allow the stormwater pipes to be laid through. The main was then diverted above the new stormwater pipe and reconnected.

The sewer main is one of three directly in the line of work but Council hopes to be able to lay the stormwater pipes beneath the next two, as well as the electricity, Telstra and optic fibre connections now visible in the trench.

This added complexity has slowed pipe laying across Tweed Coast Road, prompting Council to extend the road closure through to Friday 9 September at the latest. However, Council is working to having the road reopened earlier in the week.

“The detour around the worksite via Elanora and Boronia avenues is working well so we will keep the road closed and try to work through the weekend, rather than reopening the road just to close it again on Monday,” said Construction Engineer Bob Hanby.

Bus passengers are advised that buses will continue to pick up and drop off on Tweed Coast Road at a temporary stop north of Boronia Avenue while the permanent stop outside the holiday park is inaccessible. Also, the Telstra public phone near the bus stop will continue to be offline for the duration of the road closure. Both these services will be restored when the road is reopened.

Council began this major drainage upgrade in late April to provide a pathway for surface water to escape the low-lying area when it rains. Progress from Cudgera Creek, through North Pottsville Holiday Park, to Tweed Coast Road has been slower than expected due to the multitude of underground services along the same route.

Council apologises for any inconvenience this extended road closure and diversion may cause.

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Caption: A contractor empties the live sewer main blocking pipe-laying progress beneath Tweed Coast Road.