Kyogle Road food restoration takes a major step forward

A signifcant step forward has been achieved in the restoration of Kyogle Road following the devastating foods of February 2022.

Contractor CMC has successfully reopened Site A, near Byangum Bridge, to dual lane traffc after extensive damage reduced it to a single lane controlled by traffc lights.

The February foods caused severe road collapses at three key sites between Byangum and Uki, as well as widespread damage to Mount Warning Road, leaving the hinterland road network heavily impacted by the rising Tweed River.

With the installation of guardrails and completion of linemarking, Site A is now fully operational with two lanes open under a reduced speed limit of 80 km/h. However, a 40 km/h speed zone remains in effect at a neighbouring site.

CMC is leading the reconstruction efforts at all three damaged sites on Kyogle Road, along with the restoration of Mount Warning Road. The total cost for the four restoration projects surpasses $38 million, funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements provided by the Australian and NSW governments following the food event.

• Site B at Boulder Close and Site C, the largest and most complex restoration site near Uki, are projected to reopen to traffc by the end of 2024.

• Mount Warning Road is anticipated to reopen to dual-lane traffc by the end of November 2024.

The restoration of Site A required stabilizing a 115-metre-long slip, which had sunk over 5 metres deep. Crews installed fve rows of one-metre-high gabion baskets to bring the site back to road level. In total, more than 22,000 tonnes of rock were transported, necessitating over 3,600 truck trips. A total of 3,445 gabion baskets were assembled and flled, utilising over 480,000 rocks to complete the restoration.

Council Project Manager Brad Turner commended CMC’s efforts:

“Council applauds CMC for their outstanding work in coordinating the construction of the four complex restoration sites. They have not only managed the construction effciently but have also taken great care to protect the

Tweed River throughout the project.”

CMC Project Manager Adon Dinsmore expressed his pride in completing this critical infrastructure well ahead of schedule:

“We are incredibly grateful for the patience and support from the local community and road users, which has been essential in managing traffc around the work zone. We recognise the challenges these projects bring, and we are proud to leave behind a lasting legacy that will beneft future generations. Additionally, we are thankful for the opportunity to support local volunteer organisations that play a vital role in the community.”

For more information on the restoration works, visit tweed. nsw.gov.au/foodrestoration-works.