Council voted in favour of bringing forward works on the Ring Road-Gregory Street intersection.

New works on Blind Creek Road were also approved.

Council made the decision in-camera, but refused to reveal the costs of the works, due to “commercial-in-confidence” reasons. The works at the Gregory Street intersection will include “reticulated services”, such as water, power and gas lines.

Reconstruction of Blind Creek Road was not included as part of the original Link Road project, but has been brought forward.

Council environment and infrastructure director Terry Demeo said works would be complete while the road remains closed during the current project.

“The variation discussed in-camera on Wednesday night brought forward the undisclosed reticulated services within the Ring Road-Gregory Street West intersection, which are required to be addressed as part of the overall project,” he said.

“Further, council has resolved to bring forward the construction of Blind Creek Road beyond the confines of the Ballarat Link Road project with the intention to construct Blind Creek Road to the west.

“This will allow the complete Blind Creek Road reconstruction to be finished during its mandatory closure while the Ballarat Link Road is under construction.”

Construction firm Winslow Australia has been building the Ballarat Link Road in the city’s west.

When completed it will create a western bypass of Ballarat, between the Western Highway and Remembrance Drive. The Remembrance Drive end will meet Dyson Drive at Alfredton.

Plans to complete a bypass all the way to the Glenelg Highway at Delacombe have not yet been approved. A bypass to link the Glenelg Highway to the Midland Highway south of Buninyong has also been proposed.