Rod Wangman said it was the first milestone in making the city a destination.

Traffic lights at the intersection will be switched on some time over the next fortnight, weather permitting.

That will be followed by a community celebration on August 23, from 9am to noon.

There will be music, a free barbecue breakfast, face painting, balloon sculpting and activities.

“This will be an opportunity for our community to come down and celebrate this next point that will actually have roads opened and part of our city back to the way we had always anticipated,” he said.

“This is a point where we should look back and enjoy that things have happened.

“The rail has gone, the roads are now joined and we can see the development sites around us and see the nature of how the city has changed.”

The $4.9 million Elgin Boulevard re-alignment began in January, with High Street closed for almost three months.

Cr Wangman said the opening of the intersection meant Elgin Boulevard would be open up to Hovell Street.

“There’s still more work to be done in terms of landscaping and paving, as well as line marking before we open the intersection,” he said.

Work on an urban square in Junction Place is expected to start before the end of the year.

Cr Wangman said there were budget commitments by the council and Places Victoria.

He thanked traders for their patience.

“They will see a far different temperament for our city where this is a place of destination, a place that people want to come and buy product and enjoy the community,” Cr Wangman said.

Cr Wangman said.