With the Pacific Highway passing through the Shire, the predicted increase in heavy road transport and self drive tourists, as well as increased local trips with population growth, has led Council to develop a 20 year traffic network model. This identifies what infrastructure works will be required to cope with traffic growth over this period.
Some $54 million will be needed to meet predicted needs. $15 million of this will be required for the Western Arterial Bypass. This will take traffic on the Pacific Highway out of the CBD in Ballina and around the township. Council has set up a developer contribution scheme to help fund this project.
Currently an Environmental Impact Study and extensive community consultation regarding the proposed route is being undertaken.
