The community is being invited to have its say on the recommended corridor for the upgrade of the Bruxner Highway between Wollongbar and Goonellabah.

Feedback received will help finalise the preferred alignment for a proposed eight-kilometre upgrade from Sneaths Road at Wollongbar to Kadina Street at Goonellabah, and allow for land to be secured for the future development of the road corridor.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said preserving the land from development was the first step towards the upgrade and would help with land use planning.

“The Bruxner Highway is a key east-west corridor connecting people with health, education and other essential services as well as providing essential freight links,” the spokesperson said.

“Transport has been planning improvements along the full length of the highway, including options to improve safety for all road users, reduce congestion as well as improve pedestrian and cycle connectivity between Ballina and Lismore.

“As part of that planning, Transport for NSW reassessed a historical single-carriageway alignment to the north of the existing highway between Wollongbar and Goonellabah from the 1970s.

“We examined where improvements could be made to enhance safety and efficiency of the highway, identify community impacts and make the corridor less susceptible to flooding.

“The latest assessment confirmed that, with some minor adjustments, the preferred corridor should be on the historical alignment north of the existing highway.”

The Transport spokesperson said community feedback was an important part of the planning process, helping Transport for NSW determine if refinements were needed before working with other agencies and councils to incorporate the preferred corridor into local environment plans.

“No funding has been allocated for the design or construction of an upgrade of the Bruxner Highway between Wollongbar and Goonellabah, but having plans in place will mean work can start quickly when funding becomes available,” the spokesperson said.

“It will mean the preferred corridor can be preserved for a future highway upgrade and will help us deliver a safer, more efficient and resilient highway to support population growth in the region.”

For more information, visit nswroads.work/w2g.

Submissions close 5pm Friday 20 December.