Bridge Duplications including Evacuation Routes

• Project typeBridge
• Project schedule2024 to 2027

Work is progressing on a major upgrade to duplicate Fishery Creek and Canal bridges in Ballina. These improvements will boost safety, ease congestion and strengthen two key evacuation routes. Major construction on the project is expected to begin in February 2026 at both sites and be completed in the second half of 2027.

Ballina Shire Council started preliminary investigation works in November 2023 at Fishery Creek Bridge, on River Street, and Canal Bridge, on Tamarind Drive, as part of their plan to duplicate both bridges.

Duplicating the existing bridges and raising the approaches of the roadway will improve evacuation options during flooding events and build a more resilient road network.

The River Street (Fishery Creek Bridge) Stage 3 Lane Duplication involves developing four lanes in River Street, between approximately 70m east of Henry Philip Avenue and Brampton Avenue, including a duplicate bridge over the waterway. 

The Tamarind Drive (Canal Bridge) Lane Duplication involves developing four lanes in Tamarind Drive, between Kerr Street and approximately 320 metres north-west to North Creek Road and developing four lanes in North Creek Road, between Tamarind Drive to Southern Cross Drive. This project includes a duplicate bridge over the waterway.

Once constructed, the duplicated bridges will provide dual lanes in and out of Ballina Island, improve traffic flow and increase the roads' capacity to comfortably cater for future traffic demands.

Pre-construction work has started and will continue during 2025. This will include relocating underground services. These early works will involve:

• Footpath closures and pedestrian detours. Please follow on site signage.
• Construction noise between 7am- 6pm, Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm Saturdays.

In April 2024 council proceeded with a selective tendering method, by which invitations to tender were made for Design Development and Construction of the Duplicated bridges and their approaches. 

In August council resolved to award a contract to Quickway Constructions to construct the duplication of Canal Bridge on Tamarind Drive and Fishery Creek Bridge on River Street including the road approaches.

As part of the planning phase, Ballina Shire Council has exhibited the Review of Environmental Factors for each bridge project to seek community feedback, with the results now available on Council’s website. Council has now obtained all planning approvals to proceed with the works.

This Council project will be completed across three years and has been funded with $40 million from the Australian Government through the Emergency Response Fund administered by NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-2023.

The duplication of the bridges will increase the traffic capacity of these roads and improve their ability to support evacuations in response to major flood events. This project also forms the first steps of a broader road-raising program, to improve the long-term resilience of these vital corridors.

Project includes:

• Construct two new bridges adjacent to the existing Fishery Creek Bridge and Canal Bridge to create four-lane accesses to and from Ballina Island.
• Expand the approach roads to match the four-lane bridges.
• Improve pedestrian and cycleway links to cater for more active transport across the waterways.
• Raise sections of roadway between River Street at the Teven Interchange and Tamarind Drive at the Cumbalum Interchange.

The following works are expected to commence in February 2026:

• Construction of a new temporary access to Fishery Creek Boat ramp, including additional temporary carpark
• Temporary closure of the Fishery Creek carpark at West Ballina, to establish the contractors site compound. The boat ramp will remain open throughout the project, however the carpark will temporarily close for the duration of the project. Temporary access and additional parking will be via the new access road further along Boatharbour Road
• Clearing of vegetation
• Construction of Rigid Inclusions in the soft soils to support new retaining walls and reduce road settlement. Rigid inclusions are a ground improvement method using high concrete columns constructed through soils to reduce settlement and increase bearing capacity.
• Establishment of roadworks zone on the bridge approaches on both River Street and Tamarind Drive.
• Footpath and shared path diversions. Pedestrian access across both bridges will remain throughout the project. 

Ballina Shire Council will continue to inform the community at each project phase.
 

Project stages

Preliminary works (2024) - COMPLETE

• Geotechnical investigations
• Environmental approvals
• Hydrology modelling
• Preliminary design of bridges
• Preliminary design of sections of road raising.

Design and approvals (2025) - COMPLETE

• Land acquisition
• Early Works on service relocations and Tamarind Drive preload
• Final design of bridges complete
• Final design of sections of road raising
• Environmental approvals finalised.

Construction (2026/2027)

• Bridge construction
• Pathway construction
• Road construction

Both Canal Bridge and Fishery Creek Bridges will remain open during construction.