Continuation of Sturt Street shared path set to begin 

The continuation of the Sturt Street shared bicycle and pedestrian path will begin on Monday 31 January between Dawson and Doveton streets. 

The six-month, $3.7 million project will eventually see the path continue to Grenville Street and lead into the revamped Bridge Mall. 

The first section, between Pleasant and Dawson streets, is being undertaken by the State Government as part of its Ballarat Safer Cycling Connections program. 

However, the Sturt Street section between Dawson and Grenville streets is City of Ballarat controlled, not State Government. 

Delacombe-based construction company Fulton Hogan will carry out the works, with half of the project cost covered by the Department of Transport and half by the City of Ballarat. 

This stage of works is expected to take six weeks, weather permitting, with access to properties, businesses and loading zones always maintained. 

There will be some parking restrictions during phases of the work due to equipment and machinery manoeuvring, with traffic management procedures to be set in place. 

Extra road surfacing, line marking, and traffic signal works will take place after the initial six-week phase. 

The full 600-metre path will also include streetscape works and new pedestrian crossings at every intersection, including Doveton, Armstrong and Lydiard streets. 

The crossings will be controlled by traffic lights, which will be synchronised with the existing intersection lights. 

The path will also feature cut bluestone to match the heritage streetscape. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the works would allow pedestrians and cyclists to walk or cycle the full length of Sturt Street without having to worry about competing with other vehicles. 

“This fantastic initiative was started by the State Government and now we get to finish it off and link it into a rejuvenated Bridge Mall,” Cr Moloney said. 

“It’s a great, safe space for cyclists and pedestrians to go down our beautiful main street from Pleasant Street to Grenville Street without having to constantly look out for cars or other motorised vehicles.”