Kennedy Dr roadworks are driving away business
BUSINESS owners all along and around Kennedy Dr are losing money and are fed up with road works they say have been going on too long and should be conducted at night for minimal impact.
Works are being carried out by Tweed Shire Council on water mains, creating traffic delays with workers and heavy equipment on site.
Former test cricket player Greg Ritchie says he is just one of many small business operators who are losing money as the road works drag on.
Gary Cole runs his mowing business out of Tweed Heads West and said the morning period was particularly bad for business.
"Yeah you would definitely have to say the 7.30am up until 10am period is the worst," Mr Cole said.
The group of disgruntled business owners is also concerned about the ability of emergency services to get in and out of the area.
"What happens if there is an emergency? How would an ambulance get through," Mr Ritchie said.
"All we are asking is will the council show some consideration to local business, and will they conduct the work at night, when it affects nearly no one, in comparison to what we estimate to be around five to 10 thousand people during the day," he said.
Tweed Shire Council's works manager Ian Kite said night works had been ruled out for several reasons.
"Night works were considered during the planning stages of this project but were ruled out for a number of reasons, including safety of workers, safety of motorists, availability of resources and access to support organisations," Mr Kite said.
The council also commented on the emergency service access concerns.
"Emergency services are aware of the situation," Mr Kite said.
"They have contingency plans in place should the need arise."
With all things going to schedule, the council hopes work should be completed and traffic conditions returned to normal by the end of October.
"Depending on weather and the ground conditions encountered, the target date to return traffic conditions to normal is the last week of October," he said.
