This project is the final stage of the Ross Lane / Byron Bay Road upgrades and will raise sections of Ross Lane while improving flow through Deadmans Creek.
A new bridge and road upgrade will enhance safety and flood resilience in the area. The existing piped culvert on Ross Lane will be replaced with a wider, purpose-built concrete bridge designed to support the region into the future. Key features include 3.5-metre-wide traffic lanes for safer vehicle movement, dedicated shoulders to provide more space for all road users, and a raised road surface to improve flood immunity. The design also carefully balances improved driver safety with potential inundation impacts on surrounding landholders.
This project is funded through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (RRTRP), which strengthens the regional transport network’s capacity to withstand natural disasters. To learn more visit nswroads.work/rrtrp
In late August 2026, the Ross Lane Flood Resilience Project was awarded to Hazell Bros following a competitive tender process. Construction is expected to commence 1 October 2026 and be completed by Christmas 2026. To enable bridge construction within the available budget and minimise construction risks, Ross Lane will be closed for approximately nine weeks from 19 October 2026, reopening 18 December 2026, subject to wet weather and site conditions. For the remainder of the project, traffic is expected to be managed under temporary single-lane traffic control arrangements where possible.
The community will continue to be kept informed of the construction schedule as the project progresses.
FAQs
The Ross Lane Flood Resilience Program is a major road and bridge upgrade project designed to improve flood resilience at the Deadmans Creek crossing on Ross Lane. The project will raise the road and construct a new bridge which will reduce the frequency of road closures during flood events, improve safety and access for residents, businesses, emergency services and the wider community.
Ross Lane has a long history of flooding at Deadmans Creek, forcing it to close during heavy rainfall events. These closures can occur several times each year, and impact approximately 8,400 vehicles each day. Improving the flood resilience of this crossing will reduce disruptions and improve network reliability during more frequent flood events.
(*AHD = Australian Height Datum, the national standard reference level for measuring elevations across Australia. It is roughly equivalent to the mean sea level. Ross Lane will be elevated so that the finished road surface level at Deadmans Creek is around 1.45 metres AHD.)
The road surface of Ross Lane will be raised to:
Construction will commence from 1 October 2026 and is expected to be completed by Christmas 2026, subject to wet weather and site conditions.
Yes. To enable bridge construction within the available budget and minimise construction risks, Ross Lane will be closed for approximately nine weeks from 19 October 2026, reopening 18 December 2026, subject to wet weather and site conditions.
For the remainder of the project, traffic is expected to be managed under temporary single-lane traffic control arrangements where possible.
A 20% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood has a 1-in-5 chance of being equalled or exceeded in any year. This essentially means that on average, it is expected to occur once every 5 years. The project is designed to improve access during more frequent flood events while balancing impacts on nearby landowners and the environment.
Yes. Ross Lane will still be affected during larger flood events. The new bridge and raised road levels will reduce the frequency of Ross Lane being closed. However, during larger floods, water levels may still rise above the road and bridge and over top them.
It is not possible to completely eliminate flooding at this location without increasing flood impacts on surrounding properties. The upgrade strikes a balance between improving flood resilience and managing impacts on the wider floodplain.
The project is estimated to cost $4.35 million. This includes preliminary site investigations, design, construction, project management and contingencies.
This project has received a $3.9 million grant from Transport for NSW through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (RRTRP), which supports resilience improvements for key transport infrastructure.
The Ross Lane Flood Resilience project is supported by $3.9 million in grant funding, with Council contributing approximately $450,000 to meet the remaining project costs.
Council’s contribution will be funded through Section 7.11 Heavy Haulage Developer Contributions – funds collected from eligible development to help pay for impacts on local infrastructure – and the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Highway Bypass Reserves, which are existing Council funds set aside for infrastructure purposes.
Following a competitive public tender process, Hazell Bros (QLD) Pty Ltd has been appointed by Council.
Council considered an option to construct a temporary sidetrack to maintain traffic access during construction. However, this option would have added an approximate $500,000 to $800,000 to the project cost and introduced significant construction, property access and utility risks.
The selected construction approach provides the best balance between project cost, delivery certainty and overall value for the community.
During the design process, Council investigated a range of options. The selected design balances improved flood access with the need to minimise impacts on neighbouring properties, the floodplain and the surrounding environment. Building the crossing significantly higher would increase project costs and could result in adverse upstream flood impacts.
Ross Lane, Lennox Head 2478 View Map
Ross Lane , Lennox Head 2478