Flood Restoration - Roads & Bridges

ROADS & BRIDGES FLOOD RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE
Please note, several road and bridge projects progressing concurrently, below are updates for some projects progressing this month. Please check the 'Projects By Name' and select the road name for latest updates. Additionally, if there is a road you would like specific flood restoration updates on, please register your contact details via our notification list form.

COMPLETED WORKS
Crofton Road
Excitingly, road pavement restoration works on Crofton Road were completed on 6 June. The works began in November 2023 to remediate significant damaged caused during the February 2022 natural disaster. Construction involved resealing 3 kilometres of road, installing guideposts, and replacing two culverts. During these works, the road remained open with stop-go traffic conditions, and we would like to thank the community for your patience during this time.
Dorroughby Road
After listening to the concerns of residents, work crews organised for contractors to install a new guardrail on Dorroughby Road to improve road safety. Thank you to residents for your positive feedback following the installation.

CURRENT WORKS
Blue Knob Road
Work is underway on the first of four landslip sites along Blue Knob Road. Contractor CMC is currently focused on the site closest to Nimbin, where they are constructing two soil nail walls. Once this stage is underway, they will proceed to establish the second site for excavation. The restoration of all four landslips in this project is anticipated to span 10 months, subject to weather conditions.

Eureka Road, Graham Road & Haywood Lane
The side tracks and earthworks are completed at all three sites. On Eureka Road piling is now completed and installation of a new Inquik bridge is planned for early August. Piling commenced on Haywood Lane 26 June and is also scheduled for Inquik bridge installation early August. Following these works, piling will begin mid-July on Graham Road due to essential energy power outage required to commence these works. Throughout construction, road users will continue to utilise the side tracks to minimise traffic disruption.

Gravel Roads – Multiple Sites
Efforts persist in grading over 120 kilometres of 53 unsealed gravel roads, which suffered substantial damage due to declared natural disasters in December 2023 and April 2024. The most severely affected roads receive highest priority to expedite critical route restoration. This ambitious project, one of the largest of its kind, involves Council deploying six distinct work crews, strategically clustered geographically to optimise efficiency and resource allocation. Recently, HXR conducted grading on Gungas Road and expressed gratitude to the supportive residents they have encountered to date.

Leycester Road
Ongoing efforts are focused on repaving the entire length of Leycester Road, covering approximately 3.6 kilometres from Kyogle Road to Bice Road. Construction entails a granular overlay of the existing road surface, resealing, and upgrades to stormwater drainage. Anticipated to span approximately six months, from July to late December 2024 subject to weather conditions. the construction will impact traffic. During this period, road users will be impacted and can expect delays. During the works, residents will be impacted while construction is carried out under traffic control stop/go arrangement and a reduced speed limit. At times road users may experience long delays necessary to facilitate the construction of the new pavement.

Newton Drive
Construction has commenced on a second minor upslope landslip further up Newton Drive. Crews have taken advantage of favourable weather conditions during the past month proceeding to the final cleanup and rehabilitation phase. The remaining work involves sealing the road at the landslip site and the replacement of a single pipe culvert. We extend our gratitude to the community for their patience during the minor disruptions to traffic flow.

Rogerson Road
Benefiting from favourable weather conditions, the culvert works on Rogerson Road have advanced. These efforts entail replacing outdated steel drains with new cement pipes. Over the course of the month, the pipes were lifted and positioned in place, and the blinding was poured for the headwalls.

Stony Chute Road
Earthworks are now complete and site rehabilitation is underway. Drainage structures are on track to be completed by the end of the month. On drainage completion, final works include road resealing which will involve stop/go traffic control.

Three Chain Road Quarry
Located on 12.9 hectares, the formerly abandoned Three Chain Road Quarry has excitingly reopened. The site now serves as a revenue stream to support the creation of a rehabilitated green space and koala habitat. Managed by the Flood Restoration Roads and Bridges team, the quarry is excepting Excavated Natural Material (ENM). Any material disposed must undergo rigorous testing with documented proof of addressing strict environmental standards.

Terania Creek Road
Thrillingly, construction works on Bridge 3 are now complete. Crews have moved onto Bridge 2 where a side track is in place and works are underway for new approach slabs and restraint bracket installation. After, crews will relocate to Bridge 1 to construct a side-track early to mid-July and commence approach works.

Upper Tuntable Falls Road
Landslip remediation works are nearing completion on Upper Tuntable Falls Road including minor grading and drainage works. Images below illustrate the progress during the past few weeks for remediation at the site.
FUTURE WORKS

Urban Drainage
Approvals have been received for the urban drainage works. The project will soon be tendered to local contractors for pricing, with an anticipated start date in four weeks.

Gwynne Road
The pavement repair designs for Gwynne Road, covering the initial 1.2 kilometres from the Jiggi Road intersection, have been finalised. The project will soon be tendered to local contractors for pricing, with an anticipated start date within the next 4 to 6 weeks.

After more than 12 months of construction the second landslip site along Nimbin Road was completed and open to traffic in both directions in late May 2024.

NIMBIN ROAD JUNE 2024

The February 2022 severe weather event significantly affected this essential route, isolating the village and causing substantial damage.

NIMBIN ROAD POST 2022 FLOODS

Work to complete repairs on the first stretch of road, about 1km from Nimbin, was completed in December last year and now work has wrapped up on the second slip site, about 4km from the village.

The engineering and geotechnical requirements of this site required a specialist solution, so Lismore City Council engaged Civil Mining and Construction (CMC) to carry out the work.

The project includes 318 micro piles and 700 concrete blocks to construct a 160m long retaining structure stabilising this section of Nimbin Road.

NIMBIN ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORKS

These extensive works were carried out under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

Lismore City Council would like to thank the community for its patience during construction and also CMC for their collaborative approach to the works, to ensure a quality outcome for the community.

NIMBIN ROAD WORKS COMPLETE

Nimbin and neighbouring communities can expect road improvements through the grading of multiple unsealed roads with works scheduled aiming to restore safe and accessible transportation routes for residents and visitors alike.

ROADS & BRIDGES FLOOD RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE

Please note, several road and bridge projects progressing concurrently, below are updates for some projects progressing this month. Please check the 'Projects By Name' and select the road name for latest updates. Additionally, if there is a road you would like specific flood restoration updates on, please register your contact details via our notification list form.

Environmental Rescue at Rogerson Road
What happens when a handful of bats put a major flood restoration project on hold? When it came time to replace three large steel storm water drainage pipes with reinforced concrete pipes ones on Rogerson Road, McKees Hill, project coordinators discovered at least half a dozen micro bats had made a hole in one pipe, their home.

Myotis Macropus: One of Australia’s most fascinating species because they’re the only bats in Australia to capture fish for food. They have large feet which they use to trawl for food near the water’s surface. Work crews had to play a waiting game until two juvenile bats were old enough to fly. But then the challenge was - how to catch the youngsters and offer them an alternative roosting venue. Eventually patience and thermal imaging cameras confirmed the two young bats took to the skies for the first time, just after sunset on 1st May.

That night the hole was sealed, and a timber bat box installed as an alternative roost. Four bats settled into their new home but the remaining two had to be caught and housed in the box. Once the culvert work is complete it’s hoped all the bats, and their box will be relocated into the new concrete pipes.

COMPLETED WORKS
Crofton Road
Road pavement restoration works on Crofton Road are on track to be completed by the end of May. Until then the road will remain open under traffic control to have minimal impact on residents, please allow extra time for delays.

Nimbin Road
Wet weather continued to cause delays to the completion of works on Nimbin Road at the site near Shipway Road. By mid-May the road was open to two-way traffic with the final clean up completed by 24 May 2024. During the past month, works were completed for the construction drainage along the retaining wall and placement of road base layers along the full width of the road. The road has now been sealed with asphalt and guardrails installed.

Oakey Creek Road
In May, temporary works were completed at a landslip site along Oakey Creek Road that was identified as a safety hazard.

CURRENT WORKS
Multiple Road Works
The works involve grading over 120km on 53 unsealed gravel roads which have been significantly damaged as a result of declared natural disaster events in December 2023 and April 2024. Roads with the most severe damage have been given the highest priority to ensure that critical routes are restored first. Council is deploying six separate works crews and efforts have been made to cluster the works geographically to optimise efficiency and resource allocation. Motorists will be notified of road changes via roadside signage. We apologise in advance for any disruptions you may experience while we carry out this essential work. For further information visit https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/maintaining-our-roads-and-bridges/news_feed/upcoming-works-grading-for-multiple-unsealed-gravel-roads

Blue Knob Road
Works began in late May to rectify the first of two landslip sites on Blue Knob Road. These works will occur for approximately 12 months which will include an additional two sites along Blue Knob Road. The road will remain open under stop go traffic control to have minimal impact on residents.

Eureka Road, Graham Road & Haywood Lane
Works have commenced to replace culverts with bridges and all side tracks are in place with existing culverts removed. Future piling work is scheduled to commence in mid-June.

Newton Drive
Works on several minor upslope landslips and a single pipe culvert were heavily impacted this month due to weather conditions. Crews are hoping for favourable weather in June to progress the pending works which will to be completed under traffic control and will have minimal impact on the residents in this area.

Rogerson Road
Through successful collaboration with environmental professionals the juvenile micro bats were temporary relocated during April. This will allow works to commence replacing the steel drainage pipes with cement ones. Thank you to the community for your understanding and patience while the works continue.

Stony Chute Road
Following the February 2022 natural disaster, Stony Chute Road suffered extensive damage. With funding secured restoration works are now underway. The works will continue for approximately three to four weeks from 15 May 2024, subject to weather conditions.

FUTURE WORKS
Gwynne Road
The design for 1.2 kilometres of new pavement is nearing completion and once finalised the work will be put out to tender with works predicted to begin in approximately 6 weeks.