Reconstruction of Leith Street set to begin as City of Ballarat builds better roads

The City of Ballarat will reconstruct a section of Leith Street in Redan as part of a $1.19 million upgrade.

The upgrade is the latest in a series of major summer and autumn works to renew and improve local roads, including the reconstruction of Tait Street, Havelock Street and Ligar Street as well as the construction of two roundabouts.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said the road improvements are delivering better and safer roads for motorists.

“The City of Ballarat is committed to investing in road renewal and improvement,” he said.

“We continue to repair our roads affected by the unprecedented wet weather last year, as well as also working to rebuild roads at the end of their useful life.”

The reconstruction of about 400m of Leith Street, from Skipton Street to west of Campbells Crescent, includes road pavement construction and sealing, reconstructing bluestone drainage, kerb and channel reconstruction, new drainage and pits, and new pedestrian footbridges with heritage barrier fencing.

Minor works will begin from Monday 17 April, with the project expected to be completed before the end of June. The works will progress to involve a stage of full road closure of Leith Street, with access for local traffic only. Traffic management will be in place with detours along Bell Street and Yarrowee Parade.

The City of Ballarat has notified nearby residents and Formosa Nursery. The nursery will remain accessible to customers throughout the works.

The City of Ballarat is currently working to reconstruct a section of Havelock Street, from Walker Street to Landsborough Street, in Ballarat North. The $460,000 project began in late March and is expected to be completed by the end of May.

Works to reconstruct a section of Ligar Street in Ballarat North are also nearing completion.

The $460,000 works, which began in early March, include reconstruction of the road pavement, new kerb and channel, sealing of the road shoulder, parking and tree pits.

The $2.04 million reconstruction of Tait Street in Delacombe is expected to be completed by the end of April.

The 880m section, from Crown Street to Walker Street, is progressing through the final stages of works, with the final asphalt layer completed while line-marking is expected to commence next week.

The reconstruction includes increased road width, with a centre median and turning lanes. The works also comprise a new kerb and channel, an on-road bike lane, pedestrian footpaths, nature strips with landscaping, line-marking and signage.    

Construction of the roundabout to improve safety at Ring Road and Gregory Street West is now underway.

The $1.1 million works are being funded with $565,000 of Federal Government Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program funding and $535,000 of City of Ballarat funding.  

The works include construction of a roundabout to replace the existing cross-road and are expected to be completed by the end of May.  

Construction of a roundabout at Warrenheip Road and Navigators Road has been completed.

The works were funded with $766,452 from the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery program as well as $323,000 from the City of Ballarat’s 2022/2023 budget.