Motorists respond to plea to avoid Kennedy Drive

26 October 2016

Light traffic and moderate delays on Day 3 of reconstruction

Motorists today heeded Council’s advice to avoid Kennedy Drive, Tweed Heads West, allowing road reconstruction and a repair on the bridge to proceed without incident.

While there were still delays, traffic management was delighted with the response from motorists to stay away.

“It’s only Day 3 of a 10-day construction program and we would like to appeal to motorists to extend the travel plans they adopted today for another seven working days,” said Construction Engineer Bob Hanby.

“With vehicles travelling so close to the construction site it really helps everyone, including the motorist, if that traffic volume remains light allowing us to keep it moving relatively smoothly in both directions despite having only a single lane open adjacent to the works.”

Today Council responded to motorists’ feedback about delays on the alternate route (Bilambil and Terranora roads and then Fraser Drive) by liaising with the external groups undertaking work on Bilambil Road and Fraser Drive. As a result, Essential Energy redeployed tree-lopping crews from Bilambil Road to different worksites.

Tomorrow, road reconstruction contractors will work to the bridge, completing the application of deep-lift asphalt on the southern lanes. Then, on Friday, the traffic will be switched to the southern lanes so the northern lanes can be reconstructed.

To travel on the partly reconstructed southern lanes, motorists are advised the deep-lift asphalt is about 50mm lower than the finished level of the permanent pavements it joins so they will feel a small bump in and bump out. Applying the final wearing surface of the entire section from the bridge to Limosa Road will be the last task of the reconstruction and is expected to occur on Monday 7 November, weather permitting

Again tomorrow, work starts at 7am and motorists are advised to clear the roadworks before then or go the alternate route. Afternoon commuters travelling westbound are urged to go the other way if travelling before 6pm.

Road reconstruction began on Monday and is the final task in this five-year, $9 million project to upgrade this major arterial road.

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Caption: While there were still delays today, traffic management was delighted with the response from motorists to stay away.