Countdown to a new main street

Narrabri’s main street has been steadily deteriorating over the years, potholed and patched up, and showing its age.

In more recent years traffic and commerce have been disrupted while various configurations of street furniture, trees and lighting have been tried, failed and abandoned.

Following controversy, most recently Maitland Street has been the scene of earthworks as a median strip was installed, trees planted and new lighting erected and new water mains laid.

Now the early stages of work have been done, all that remains is for the laying of a smooth, new asphalt surface and work on that final part of the project begins soon.

Tenders closed two weeks ago and the successful bidder is expected to be known by next Tuesday’s council meeting with work on the pavement replacement to start during September.

The road construction is estimated to take approximately six months to complete due to the complexity of the work and volume of soil that needs to be removed and replaced, a council spokesperson said.

“The construction process is being designed to limit disruption to CBD businesses with accessibility to the main street being maintained.

“No works will be undertaken during the Christmas shopping period to allow shoppers to have unhindered access to the CBD.”

Major works have preceded the final stage of the Maitland Street makeover.

“Extensive subgrade and pavement investigations and soil testing were undertaken while the water main replacement was completed in the CBD earlier this year to ensure pavement designs were fit for purpose,” council said.