Armidale Regional Council will be undertaking solar safety light installation along a stretch of the Armidale Pedestrian and Bicycle Link (‘footpath’ or ‘cycleway’) between Niagara Street and Elm Avenue. The installation of additional safety lights along this stretch of the footpath will commence on Tuesday the 10th of September 2024 with the works expected to be completed by the 17th of December 2024, weather permitting.
Council received a grant from the Stronger Country Communities Fund round 5 grant opportunity to install additional safety solar lights from Niagara Street through to Elm Avenue as stage 2 of the cycleway lighting installation project.
Stage 1 of the project saw lighting installed along a stretch of the cycleway from Markham street through to Niagara street. Following installation of the lights, there have been zero reported incidents of crime, with fear of crime also significantly reduced (as reported by the New England Crime Prevention Unit of the NSW Police). The effectiveness of stage 1 in reducing crime and fear of crime indicated that installing lights along a further stretch of the cycleway would provide significant benefit to the community.
Construction associated with the lighting installation will commence no earlier than 7am on weekdays, and 8am on weekends (where weekend work is approved). Council staff and contractors will do their best to complete the work as quickly as possible, with work to conclude by 5pm in most circumstances.
To allow council staff and contractors to complete their work safely and successfully and to minimise the impact to you, we ask that you follow all signage and any detours from the footpath during construction.