A 25 metre-long trench marks the beginning of work on the Otho Street median strip as part of the Inverell Shire Council’s Town Centre Renewal Plan.
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Council workers were hard at work on Wednesday morning digging the trench and finalising work on the pedestrian crossing.
“There’s quite a lot going on,” council manager of civil engineering and Otho Street project manager Justin Pay said.
“We’ve got a number of works crews working here, there’s machinery about everywhere and we’re really utilising a lot of resources to make sure we can get this project completed as soon as we possibly can, and that way it’ll limit the impacts on the businesses down here.”
He said workers hoped to have the pedestrian crossing finished by this weekend.
The raised pedestrian crossing has been removed from the street, and is being replaced with a crossing on the same level as the road – with the same geometry as before.
Mr Pay said this was because the raised crossing no longer fit Roads and Maritime Services standards.
A crew spent the morning preparing to lay pavers and finalise the curb and gutter on the northern side of the street. The crossing is already finished on the Inverell Motel side of the road.
Weather permitting, Mr Pay said they planned to finish the asphalt and pavement in the middle of the street on the weekend. Chanticleer pear trees have replaced the London plane trees beside the crossing, and nine pin oaks will be planted along the median strip.
Mr Pay said the council was still organising the pin oaks planting, but expected it to occur in the first week of April.
The trench for the median strip will be split into 25 metre sections to create less risk if rain does fall.
The road closure has changed to be more accommodating to businesses, with the Byron Street side remaining open to provide more parking during construction of the median strip. Mr Pay expected construction on the Evans Street side to begin in five to six weeks.
Inverell mayor Paul Harmon said the dedication of the works crew was encouraging.
“The staff are doing a fantastic job,” he said.
“I know the managers down there on a daily basis are looking to see how we actually manage the traffic management plan to minimise the parking disruptions in the CBD, and everyone’s been very co-operative.
“There’s been great rapport built with some of the store owners down there and their understanding of the process, and we’re working to make sure we have minimal disruption.”
”Our guys are working as hard as they can to get the job finished as soon as possible to limit the impacts on the businesses, and if any people around town want to come and support the businesses down the main street, I know they’d certainly appreciate that,” Mr Pay said.