The 2017 Tweed Road Development Strategy identified the upgrade of Tweed Coast Road between the Pacific Motorway (M1) at Chinderah and Casuarina Town Centre (Grand Parade) as a key arterial road project for the Tweed. The widening of this road to a 4 lane configuration will achieve future traffic capacity and improve safety for residents, businesses and tourists who use Tweed Coast Road to access the Tweed Coast townships of Kingscliff, Cudgen, Casuarina, Cabarita, Bogangar, Hastings Point and Pottsville. Importantly, there is significant growth forecast for this area, including the new Tweed Valley Hospital at Kingscliff (due to open in 2023) and new urban land releases at West Kingscliff and Kings Forest which will deliver housing, recreation and employment for about 15,000 new people over the next 30 years.
The Tweed Coast Road Upgrade will be delivered in stages. The first stage will be delivered by the NSW Health Infrastructure(External link) in conjunction with the hospital development prior to 2023, being an upgrade to the signalised intersection of Tweed Coast Road and Cudgen Road.
Council’s next highest priority is the delivery of the stage north of this intersection to the M1. This stage is currently undergoing detailed civil design and the planning approvals process including environmental, noise, and cultural heritage studies have started.
The Depot Road (to be known as Kings Forest Parkway) intersection upgrade will be constructed by the Kings Forest developer Leda Holdings. The other 4 sections will be constructed by Council or its contractors.
The upgrade will include the construction of 7 sewer rising mains and a new sewerage pump station to cater for both the population growth in the area and the hospital’s needs.
Council is designing its sections of the upgrade to ensure its construction partners (NSW Health Infrastructure and private developers) design and build the major intersection upgrades to tie into a future 4 laned road and not the existing 2 laned road.
For example the electrical works for the hospital at Cudgen Road (east of the Tweed Coast Road intersection) and the construction of the underground seawater intake pipe for the Australia Bay Lobster Producers currently underway south of the Chinderah golf course.
Works that may disrupt traffic will be published on our roadworks and closures page.
The 4 laning of the 6.1 km of road is estimated to cost $55 million and will be undertaken in 6 sections identified in the proposed concept masterplan.
The timing of the construction of the 4 laning depends on the progress or completion of sections 2 to 6. This means that Section 1 will be the last program of works that will be carried out.
Design of the new roadworks including duplication of the Cudgen Creek Bridge and environmental approvals will be undertaken over the next 5 years.
So far, the following works have been completed:
The Depot Road intersection works will be undertaken by Leda Holdings.
Council has issued approvals for the roadwork, water and sewer infrastructure.
A detailed concept road design has been completed and enabled discussions with landowners to acquire land required for the road along Tweed Coast Road.
The tender process has concluded to upgrade a 2.1 km of sewer rising main along Tweed Coast Road, from the Cudgen Creek intersection to south of Plantation Road. This will ensure reliable sewer services to the area and future proof the sewer network for projected growth. Works are now underway and are expected to be completed by April 2022.
Council provided input into the hospital design process to ensure the proposed intersection caters for the future 4 laning and is compatible with sections 3 and 5. NSW Health Infrastructure is collating the design documentation for the Cudgen Road intersection works, which require approval by Council.
As part of the design process, a future sewer rising main (SRM4025), which will be included in the intersection works that NSW Health Infrastructure will be undertaking.
Planning and construction for sections 5 and 6 will be undertaken at the same time.
These sections are currently in the detailed civil design phase and the planning approvals process has commenced including environmental, noise, and cultural heritage studies.We are expecting to complete the detailed design and lodge a Development Approval by mid 2022.
In addition to updates on section 5, we’re working with the developers of Kingscliff western precinct Gales Holdings as well as Transport for NSW to ensure intersections for the proposed development and connection to the M1 are compatible with the 4 laning of Tweed Coast Road.
* This article was first published at www.yoursaytweed.com.au