The evolution of Sturt Street is continuing at pace with Regional Roads Victoria now calling for tenders to install traffic lights and re-shape sections of Ballarat's most prominent street.
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The tender is for traffic lights at the Raglan and Ascot street intersections, which was scheduled to be one of the earliest pieces of work undertaken.
The boulevard has been the subject of numerous safety concerns and reviews in recent years, with frequent crashes occurring at a number of its intersections.
We're on track to deliver new traffic lights at these Sturt Street intersections during the second half of this year - to improve safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians
- Mal Kersting, Regional Roads Victoria
After a three-month community consultation Regional Roads Victoria released plans to improve safety in April. Aside from the traffic lights, double u-turns will be installed at Talbot, Errard and Lyons streets.
The median strip of Windermere Street will also be blocked off as part of the works so only left turns will be possible from Sturt Street.
WATCH VIC ROADS RENDERING OF CHANGES:
"We're on track to deliver new traffic lights at these Sturt Street intersections during the second half of this year - to improve safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians," said Mal Kersting of Regional Roads Victoria.
He said the organisation would continue to keep everyone informed once the contract was awarded and a firm time-frame for construction in place.
The works are part of the Ballarat Safer Cycling Connections project, and delivered in partnership with the Transport Accident Commission. The deadline for the tender is on July 24.
Further west, works are carrying on as part of the Sturt Street West upgrade, a $4.8-million state government package designed to improve travel times between the CBD and the western suburbs.
Last week the second phase of work began to install a U-turn lane at the intersection of Sturt and Elliott Streets. Timed to coincide with the school holidays, the work is designed to improve safety and relieve pressure on school-time traffic near St Patrick's College and Ballarat Clarendon College.
There will also be a new set of traffic lights installed near Loreto College at the intersection of Russell Street and Morrison Street, and new traffic lanes at the Arch of Victory roundabout.
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