Surveyors took to Mair Street on Monday as a major upgrade of the CBD artery gets under way.
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The plans for the works include dual lanes from Dawson St North to Armstrong Street and then from Davies to Humffray St.
Upgrades will take place to intersections at Doveton, Armstrong, Peel and Humffray streets, with new turning lanes, line marking and better traffic light flow. New traffic lights will also be installed at the intersection of Dawson and Mair streets.
The project’s aim is to unclog one of Ballarat’s worst CBD choke points.
Regional Roads Victoria Western Regional Director Mal Kersting said works at the Humffray Street corner include “upgrading traffic signals, improving the pavement surface, and making it easier and safer for drivers to turn” will be completed by the end of February.
“Since September, we’ve been working closely alongside a dedicated group of Mair Street traders to minimise any impacts the works may have on businesses,” he said.
But the contentious issue of parking is still a bugbear of the project. While the state government confirmed last year the upgrade will see the loss of 69 car parks for the first, fully-funded part of the $7 million project, refinement of plans is still under way.
Regional Roads Victoria was unable to confirm to The Courier how many car park will be lost in the project.
Median parking near Lydiard Street is likely to be removed, with these losses to be offset by 20 new off-street parking spaces at a disused car yard.
While the Humffray Street corner is upgraded, three parking spaces near restaurant Table 48 will removed temporarily, to be re-instated at the completion of the works at the intersection.
Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said the new works would eventually create a better journey for vehicles through the area.
“This project will deliver a safer, smoother journey for the 16,000 drivers who travel through this intersection every day,” she said.
“As one of regional Victoria’s fastest growing cities, we’re making sure Ballarat’s road network is equipped to cater for that growth – in terms of both safety and capacity.”
Deep asphalt works planned for the Humffray Street and Mair Street intersection will require an overnight closure, but no date for the traffic stoppage has been confirmed.