Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie said that the 20km/h shared zone, proposed to run from the post office to Sesame Lane, had been dropped after a negative response.

“We’ve taken that feedback on board and now we have what I think is a fantastic design,” Cr Speedie said.

“It will remain at 40 (km/h), which it is now, but...there will still be parking in the street and with people moving around, in actual fact the traffic is slower than that.”

Under plans unveiled on Thursday, pedestrians will be encouraged at the southern end of High Street with the installation of wombat crossings but there will not be a large loss of car parks.

Axing the shared zone, which would have been trialled as part of 2018-19 works, was welcomed by High Street traders.

“I’m pretty happy about that,” sports store co-proprietor Mick Hales said.

“I think if you slowed it down to 20km/h with pedestrians stepping out everywhere people would avoid the street like the plague.”

Newsagent Kieran Mahony said the shared zone had been overkill.

“Having the wombat crossings, I’m not averse to that, a couple of pedestrian crossings will encourage the pedestrian flow that they want, but I think the shared zone was a large step too far in achieving what they were hoping to achieve,” Mr Mahony said.

Boutique owner Dawn George, who had spoken against the 20km/h plan, welcomed the move as a sign the council was more responsive to traders’ views.

“I think it’s a good omen that they’re listening to the concerns,” Mrs George said.

Cr Speedie on Thursday outlined the calendar for further works in High Street.

From September, the Bond Street to South Street leg will be rebuilt with underground services upgraded.

A roundabout will be built at the intersection of South and Church streets in response to safety concerns.

Work at the south end of High Street starts in September 2018 and will involve the Stanley Street junction being improved and an upgrade to drainage and utilities.

The council will have the plans on display in the former OPSM shop in High Street over the next week.

Cr Speedie said the council wanted to ensure the community was well-informed.

“We’re also undertaking a large advertising program, we will have a website launched that will give real time information,” she said.

“So for example...if we happen to hit a cable or anything during those works that information would be immediately put on to that site.”