Update - February 2020
Sturt Street shared path
After extensive community consultation and planning, we have a final design for a shared path along Sturt Street, between Pleasant Street and Dawson Street.
The path will be located on the southern edge of Sturt Street central gardens. We’ll be upgrading the existing path in this location to make it safer for bike riders and pedestrians to use. We’ll also be widening the gardens to provide a safety buffer between the path and the roadway,
As well as improving safety and connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians, the design and location of the path also protects the historic integrity of Sturt Street’s iconic central gardens.
Work on path gardens is expected to begin mid April 2020.
The final design for the path is the result of extensive planning and consultation with the community, including businesses, heritage groups, bicycle user groups, health and emergency services and a Public Reference Group.
The Dawson Street to Grenville Street section of the shared path will be completed by the City of Ballarat at a later stage.
More information about traffic impacts during construction will be available closer to the start of works.
Key features of the design include:
- shared path on the south side of Sturt Street centre gardens
- a grassed buffer between the shared path and existing traffic lanes
You can zoom in on the map below to explore the path location in more detail. Please note: for the purpose of the illustration, not all monuments and garden beds are shown. Landscaping details for the new median at Windermere Street will be determined by the City of Ballarat.
View concept images here
Drummond Street North - between Sturt Street and Webster Street
We’re improving pedestrian safety in the busy Drummond Street North precinct by improving safety and traffic flow for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
The works are scheduled to begin in mid to late February 2020 and should be completed by 9 April 2020.
Works will include:
- Upgrading the pedestrian cross-over at the Mair Street/Drummond Street roundabout
- Increasing the width of the Mair Street/Drummond Street roundabout and incorporating a mountable kerb, to slow traffic speed
- Installing centre median line-marking on Drummond Street, from Sturt Street to Webster Street, to provide refuge for pedestrians from passing traffic
- Installing a kerb outstand on the south-east corner of Drummond Street and Mair Street roundabout, to reduce the pedestrian crossing distance
- Installing a pedestrian crossing near the Drummond Street North entrance of Ballarat Health Services
- Introducing a permanent 40km/h speed limit in Drummond Street, between Sturt Street and Webster Street.
Traffic impacts
Works will not be carried out during peak periods to minimise impact on traffic flow. Construction crews will be on site between 9.30am and 3pm and there may be the need for some weekend work.
During the construction, traffic management will be in place and the speed between Sturt Street and Webster Street will be reduced to 40km/h.
Further pedestrian safety improvements and traffic signal upgrades will be undertaken at the intersection of Sturt Street and Drummond Street in early 2020.
Details of the works will be provided closer to the construction date.
Thank you for your patience while we complete these important upgrades.
Sturt Street intersection upgrades
We’re improving safety at six notorious blackspot intersections in Sturt Street.
We’ve been working with the Sturt Street Traders Group, other local businesses, residents, emergency services and the Ballarat community to develop options for safety improvements on Sturt Street, between Pleasant Street and Dawson Street.
In January 2019, we held two community drop-in sessions in Ballarat to display the revised intersection treatment options and ask for community feedback. We also invited the community to provide feedback online using an interactive map.
Based on your feedback and overwhelming support of the proposed treatments, we have worked on detailed designs. Construction at the first two of the six intersections began in October 2019 with traffic lights to be installed at the intersections of Sturt Street and Ascot Street and Sturt Street and Raglan Street. An upgrade of existing traffic lights at the Sturt Street and Ripon Street intersection will also be carried out.
Traffic impacts
The intersections will remain open during works, except for a short-term closure to remove existing median islands at Ascot Street and Raglan Street.
Some works may be carried out early mornings and weekends to minimise impacts on traffic flow.
During construction, the speed limit will be reduced to 40km/h around the work sites and traffic management will be in place for pedestrians.
Works at these intersections are expected to be completed in early 2020.
For a summary of the feedback we received during the engagement process, click on the link below.
Improving Safety on Sturt Street Engagement Summary [PDF 435 Kb]
Details
We’re improving safety along Sturt Street between Pleasant Street and Dawson Street by:
- modifying intersections along Sturt Street between Dawson Street and Pleasant Street to reduce crashes in high-risk areas
- widening kerbs, traffic islands and pedestrian crossings to make crossing the road easier and safer
- constructing new paths to connect missing links in the cycling network and to separate cyclists and pedestrians from vehicles, where possible
- installing traffic signals to give cyclists and pedestrians a safer and clearer crossing in busy areas.
Raglan Street and Ascot Street - Traffic lights
Traffic lights will be installed at both the Raglan Street and Ascot Street intersections to improve safety and traffic flow through the area. The benefits of traffic lights include:
- reducing the number of crashes at intersections by up to 45%
- improved traffic flow
- providing pedestrians with a safe place to cross the road
- maintaining access to side roads.
Lyons Street, Errard Street and Talbot Street - Double U-turn
Double u-turns are being installed at three intersections along Sturt Street, to reduce the risk of crashes in the area. The benefits of double u-turns include:
- reducing the number of crashes at intersections by up to 65%, by removing the option to turn right and reducing conflict points with turning vehicles
- improving safety with minimal impacts on traffic flow for people travelling along Sturt Street.
- maintaining east-west access
- reduced risk of injuries when crashes do occur, due to the angle of cars entering Sturt Street
- creating safer crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.
Windermere Street - Closing the median
At intersections with a high-crash history, closing the median is one of the safest options, and the most effective means of preventing serious injuries and fatalities. We critically reviewed the benefit of closing the median at Windermere Street, and considered the consequence moving traffic to safer intersections.
The benefits of a median closure at Windermere Street include:
- an expected crash reduction of 95%
- completely eliminating side-impact crashes
- no impact on through-traffic on Sturt Street
- providing continuous access for pedestrians through the centre gardens and increasing available green space.
Plans to Reactivate Sturt Street
We have also been working closely with the City of Ballarat and the broader Ballarat community on plans to reactivate Sturt Street. Through this consultation period, we’ve heard a strong desire to have a shared path that connects the CBD with the city’s growing west.
Following a recommendation from our Public Reference Group (PRG), feedback from the community and heritage and arborist reports, we investigated the best location for the path and determined that it will be located on the south side of the Sturt Street gardens.
Next steps
We are developing a detailed design for a shared path that runs down the south side of the central median through Sturt Street.
We’ll share these updated plans with the community in February 2020.
Sign up to the email list to stay up to date with this project as it progresses.
Background
Together with the City of Ballarat, we have developed plans to upgrade key roads, intersections and road infrastructure to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. These plans support the implementation of the Ballarat Cycling Action Plan.
View more information about the Ballarat Cycling Action plan [PDF 6 Mb]
The aim of the Ballarat Safer Cycling Connections project is to connect the missing links in the existing bike path network. This would provide a safe and direct east-west cycle path connecting the growing western area with central Ballarat.
This project includes more than 12 km of new or upgraded walking and cycling paths, an enhancement of the Sturt Street centre median gardens to separate cyclists and vehicles, and improving safety at high-risk intersections.
Some of the components of this project are being delivered by the City of Ballarat, including the shared park alongside Victoria Park that was completed in 2018.
Ballarat Safer Cycling Public Reference Group
A Public Reference Group (PRG) was established to help determine the best options for a separated cycling and pedestrian path to connect Ballarat’s growing west with the CBD.
The PRG comprised of representatives from the City of Ballarat, Ballarat Heritage Advisory Group, Ballarat Bicycle Users Group, Sturt Street Traders Group, RSL and other organisations. Three seats on the group were allocated to community members who were selected by an Expressions of Interest process.
The purpose of the Public Reference Group was to discuss issues and opportunities relating to the location of the cycling path.
Three workshops were held in February, March and April 2019.
Get in touch
For more information about this project, please get in touch.