Motorists using Mair Street should prepare for some short term pain for long term gain as the next phase of the Mair Street Upgrade works get underway.
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Works from Humffray to Princes streets will begin on Monday to add an extra lane for westbound traffic, a new centre median to reduce the risk of head-on crashes, and improved cycling lanes.
An extra lane of traffic will also be added in both directions from Hummfray St to Davies St and angle parking converted to parallel parking to improve traffic flow.
New pedestrian signals will also be installed at the Davies Street intersection.
Works between Humffray and Princes streets are expected to be compete by the end of November, with the section through to Davies St scheduled for completion at the end of March.
The project will close down from December 1 to January 12 to reduce the impact on businesses during the busy Christmas trade period.
The works are part of a $7 million first stage of works on the notorious traffic choke point through the city.
"Mair Street is one of Ballarat's busiest roads, that's why we're delivering these important upgrades to help make sure people can get where they need to go sooner and safer," said Minister for Roads Jaala Pulford.
More than 13,000 vehicles currently use this section of Mair Street each day, with traffic levels expected to increase to 17,000 vehicles per day by 2040.
"The upgrade of Mair Street is important to manage increased traffic flow and safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. With our city growing, it is vital that our road infrastructure meets the needs of our community," said Wendouree MP Juliana Addison.
Plans for the works also include upgrades to intersections at Doveton, Armstrong, and Peel 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 first stage of the Mair Street Upgrade was completed in March this year, improving traffic signal technology, the flow of traffic and the road surface at the intersection of Mair and Humffray streets.
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