Sturt Street, Learmonth Road and Creswick Road are all listed as in need of improvement, according to the City of Ballarat’s Road Transport Strategy.
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The strategy documents a list of future projects to ensure local roads will be able to service a rapidly growing population.
The potential connection of Gregory Street West between Gillies Street and the Ring Road will be key to reducing congestion on Sturt Street.
The road is currently a broken link between Gillies Street and the Ring Road, with a disused rail track separating the two roads.
Public Transport Victoria is currently in the planning process of decommissioning the former rail line, with design and planning to follow. VicRoads’ signalisation of the Gregory and Gillies intersection is also required to facilitate the project.
The document also considers an extension of Recreation Road to Yankee Flat road, but does not have any plan in place to improve the status of the latter, which has been a constant issue for residents in the area.
“Moorabool Shire is the responsible authority for this road. VicRoads has indicated no potential to have the road declared arterial (State [VicRoads] Managed),” a status update read.
An upgrade to Gear Avenue between Geelong Road and Yankee Flat Road will also be considered in an updated strategy, while a Fussell Street inner loop will also be a long-term consideration.
Arterial upgrades to Sturt Street between Learmonth Street and the Ring Road have been completed, but there is also potential for it to be extended to the heavily used Dyson Drive and Ballarat West Link Road with available funding.
The current single west-bound lane is intended to be converted to two lanes when the avenue trees are eventually replanted. This is also a long-term process.
Also touted is the potential to upgrade Learmonth Road to reduce congestion and improve safety, but is subject to funding from relative VicRoads programs. The same principle applies to a suggested upgrade of Hertford Street.
Meanwhile, an investigation into an upgrade of a Creswick Road stretch between Howitt Street and Norman Street could gain greater support through the development of Eureka Stadium.
