The Ballarat Sewer Build is moving to its next step, after finishing the first 500 metre stretch.
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Work will now begin south of Little Bridge Street, eventually curving to the northern side of Eastwood Street and crossing the Yarrowee before heading south along Anderson Street West.
The section from Mair Street to Little Bridge Street is now almost complete, with asphalt resurfacing left to finish.
The $25 million project is a once-in-a-century upgrade of the Ballarat sewerage system, aiming to double capacity as growth increases.
Eventually, over the next five years, it will stretch from near the Brown Hill Hotel north of Humffray Street, to near the Ballarat Gold Mine in Mount Pleasant.
It will be completed in three stages - the first is now halfway finished, and stage two will continue construction south from White Flat oval.
Project manager for Central Highlands Water, Mick Dwyer, said crews had been working day and night along Peel Street to minimise disruption.
"We're just really grateful for all the traders and residents, they've been patient and supportive of all our works - soon we'll have a brand new sewer main for the next 100 years, and after that, we'll be gone for a long time," he said.
"There'll be a couple of days where we'll be working up at the (Peel Street and Eastwood Street) intersection and we'll have to close it, but we really want the community to keep supporting the businesses."
Skin Ski and Surf's John O'Neill said he appreciated CHW was proactive in keeping his business informed with what was going on, with feedback going both ways allowing parking to stay available during the crucial COVID recovery phase.
"The process was good, the contractors who did the work, night and day and through the rain, they were fantastic," he said.
"They kept us well informed, we're very happy with the job."
The works so far have involved open cut and micro-tunnelling operations between 4.5 and 5.5 metres below the road, and the next stage will all be open cut, Mr Dwyer said.
"Within the next three weeks, there'll be some minor traffic detours on Eastwood Street while the open excavation takes place," he said.
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"There'll be minor traffic detours, but we managed to maintain Peel Street north-bound at all times."
The site compound at the Scott Parade car park will stay in place for the next stage of works.
Later this month, or in early September, tenders will go out for stage two, White Flat to Mount Pleasant.
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