LOVELY, impressive, beautiful – they were words used on Monday to describe Wodonga’s long-awaited upgrade of High Street’s northern shopping strip.
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Traders and shoppers gave the thumbs-up to the makeover which has seen the street shut to traffic between Junction Place and South Street since January.
A pedestrian crossing with flashing lights, trees and echidna sculptures have been added.
“You look at that now, it’s a very inviting streetscape,” director of eatery Carv’n It Up Graham Sessions said.
“I would anticipate an increase in business with that sort of thing, especially at the weekend when people have more time to stroll around and look at the shops.”
J&M Clothing owner-operator Leeanne Worthington has spent 19 years trading on the strip which used to be cut off from the southern end of High Street by the railway.
“It’s really quite impressive what they’ve done,” Mrs Worthington said.
“There’s nothing like a boost to little Wodonga, hopefully people will now come down to our end.”
Butcher Rex McKay, who has been upset by the loss of car parking outside his shop adjacent to the new crossing, was still glowing about the upgrade.
“It looks lovely, it looks nice, it’s fresh and it will be good for shopping,” he said.
“The only downside is we’re missing a few car parks and we have to wait and see if it affects us.”
Mr McKay said he had applied to Wodonga Council to have planned taxi rank near his shop used for parking until cabs are forced to shift because of roadworks on the southern section of High Street.
High metal poles have been installed at the front of each parking bay to act as a barrier with the guttering having been removed.
“The parking is a bit of problem,” shopper Tracey Cook said.
“If someone accidentally accelerates there’s not a gutter for them to stop, so there could be a few safety issues.”
Fellow Wodonga consumer Kath Thomas said: “I think it’s beautiful but there’s not enough parking for the traders.”
The retiree described the area as “desolate” during the roadworks “but there’s no gain without pain”.
To mark the reopening the council will stage a family fun day along the strip from 10am to 2pm on Saturday.
Bond Street has been closed as part of the next phase of roadwork.
