The City of Ballarat appears to be taking a crack at tackling roads so far in 2024, and getting a head start on what roads to update over the next 10 years.
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Some roadworks are being undertaken at a small section of Doveton Street North (between the Creswick Road roundabout and service road) to construct a raised pedestrian platform as part of the Market Street car park works.
It will be closed from January 29 until February 9.
In the 2023-2024 budget, $36.3 million has been earmarked for roads up more than $10 million spent in previous years budget.
Out of the $36 million, $3 million is federal government funding, $1.1 million has been budgeted for footpaths and cycleways infrastructure and $11 million has also been put towards the road renewal program for the reconstruction of roads at the end of their 'useful life'.
City of Ballarat mayor Des Hudson said the municipality's road renewal program reconstructs roads to cater for future demands and traffic loads and demonstrated a commitment to a "better Ballarat".
"These roads are being reconstructed to new standards, usually with a thicker pavement and wider traffic lanes," he said.
"The shoulders of the roads are also constructed and sealed to prevent edge cracking and provide laneways for cyclists."
The council are looking for contractors to widen Learmonth Street from Cuthberts Road to Sturt Street.
Other works include drainage, kerb works, road pavement construction and asphalt surfacing, concrete footpath and pedestrian foot bridge.
Part of the turning lane into Learmonth Street from Cuthberts Road will be reconstructed, according to design plans.
Tenders close February 14.
The council have announced further road works to be completed in 2024 - some funded by the council, others from the federal government.
Projects include:
- Nolan Street and Scott Parade, Ballarat Central. Works will replace the road with a deeper asphalt pavement, including the Lydiard Street roundabout. Funded through the City of Ballarat's Capital Works Program, the upgrade will better accommodate the primary bus route that provides the main connection to the Ballarat Train Station Bus Interchange.
- Upgrades to Falkirk Road in Nerrina, Windermere Street in Ballarat Central and Ryan Street in Brown Hill funded through the City of Ballarat's Capital Works Program.
- Rowlands Street, between Vickers Street and Birdwood Avenue, Sebastopol. Works will begin in February to reconstruct the remainder of Rowlands Street, after the section between Hill Street and Vickers Street was reconstructed in 2021. The $1 million works are funded through the Federal Government's Roads to Recovery program.
- Cromwell Street, between Hertford and Rubicon Streets, Sebastopol. Works will commence in late January to widen the road with a new asphalt surface and replace kerb and channel. The $1.3 million upgrade is funded through the Federal Government's Roads to Recovery program.
- Rubicon and Talbot Streets, Redan. Design works are underway for a roundabout to be constructed with works expected to begin in April or May. The project is funded through the Federal Government's Black Spot Program.
- Replacing a range of roads with a deeper asphalt pavement, funded through the City of Ballarat's Capital Works Program, is set to be completed by mid-year. The works will take place on Lydiard Street, at both the Macarthur Street roundabout and the Chisholm Street roundabout, at Doveton Street, at the Macarthur Street roundabout, at the Swinglers Road/Slatey Creek Road roundabout and at the Norman Street roundabout. The works will also take place at the Cuthberts Road and Towong Street roundabout, the Pleasant Street and Rubicon Street roundabout as well as in Holly Grove, Wendouree and in Finlay Street, Brown Hill.
The City of Ballarat is also undertaking a routine road condition assessment survey of the municipality's 1000km sealed road network over the next few weeks.
Contractors will collect surface condition data of the road network, including roughness, rutting, surface texture data and other engineering data.
Council engineers will then process the data to identify where repairs and reconstruction are required, which will inform how the Ballarat plans future road projects for the next 10 years.
Alison Foletta
Alison Foletta specialises in local government and court stories. For story tips on Ballarat and local government email: alison.foletta@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Alison Foletta specialises in local government and court stories. For story tips on Ballarat and local government email: alison.foletta@austcommunitymedia.com.au
