A council staff report - to be considered at this week's 2011-12 pre-draft annual plan hearing - recommends a trial reopening of the road, for restricted hours each day, from the end of this month until June 30.
Under the proposal, the gates would be opened to motorists between 7.30am and 7.30pm from January 30 to March 31, and from 8am to 5.30pm from April 1 to June 30.
Council community and recreation policy team leader Lisa Wheeler, in her report, said the idea of a trial had been raised at a meeting of the council's community development committee in November.
The proposal had merit, as it would allow the public to see simple road markings indicating where improvements would be made, she said.
The public would then be able to present their feedback as part of the annual plan public hearings in May, she said.
The proposal would be put to councillors at this week's pre-draft plan hearings.
A new safety fence at Lawyers Head would be installed in time for the trial opening, if it proceeded, she said.
However, the council still faced a six-figure bill to redevelop the road, her report said.
The report outlined three possible options for the redevelopment, ranging in cost from $41,104 to $487,519.
Her report recommended option two, costing $220,519, as the preferred option for councillors to consider.
The plan would see a separate shared walking/cycling path to Lawyers Head, traffic calming measures, realigned parking spaces, plantings and other improvements.
Option one proposed a modest "bare bones" upgrade, while option two added a crossing point across Kettle Park Rd, an extended formed pathway to the bollards blocking vehicle access, additional kerb improvements along the road to Lawyers Head, planting and seats.
The bollards blocking vehicle access to Lawyers Head would be retained under both options, with a security guard contracted to unlock and lock the gates each day, she said.
Under option three, costing $487,519, an electronic barrier arm system to control vehicle access would be among additional improvements.
Mrs Wheeler's report recommended councillors include $220,519 in the draft 2011-12 annual plan, while implementing the trial opening until June 30.
