THE long-awaited upgrade of Wagga Road in Lavington will start in late August and be completed by Christmas.
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Albury Council’s engineering committee last night recommended a $2.06 million tender for stage one improvements of Wagga Road from the Five Ways to Kaylock Road be accepted from Excell Gray Bruni.
The contract duration is 16 weeks and the council’s engineering director Brad Ferris confirmed yesterday one lane of traffic in both directions would remain open at all times during the work.
The Wagga Road upgrade has been on the council’s agenda since the internal freeway opened in 2007, but was elevated in importance ahead of a Griffith Road improvement almost two years ago.
Works will include resealing about 750 metres, the creation of centre islands with kerb landscaping, trees, footpaths and piped drainage.
Stage two improvements to McDonald Road will be completed at an unspecified time.
The council allocated $2.86 million for stage one works and Cr Ross Jackson said the works were long overdue.
“It was something we first discussed when I got onto council in 2012 and to get to this point has been a long road,” he said.
“I can’t wait to see the finished product.”
The number of car parks between the Five Ways and Kaylock Road will be reduced from more than 100 to around 80 with Wagga Road to remain a four-lane distributor road to McDonald Road.
The centre median strip will be broken in four spots to allow for easier movement of local traffic with an additional designated turning area for the ambulance station which relocated to Wagga Road last year.
Mr Ferris said flashing lights warning other road users ambulances were about to enter Wagga Road could be incorporated into the works.
Excell Gray Bruni is reconstructing Kerr Road for council with that work due to be completed at the end of the month.
Mr Ferris said the design for the Wagga Road works followed extensive consultation with local businesses.
“We’ve sent out a number of proposals and asked them to provide some feedback,” he said.
“We got some really constructive feedback and the final design has accommodated some of the concerns raised.”