Work is expected to begin early next week on construction of a new median strip in Lords Place, between Summer and Byng streets.
The works are part of Orange City Council's FutureCity project to make the central business district more pedestrian-friendly, as well as providing better connections for people walking from Summer Street to Robertson Park and the Civic Precinct.
WORK IN PROGRESS: Contractors are almost finished installing new footpaths in Lords Place and will move on to the centre median next week.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the installation of the median strip was the next step in upgrades to this block of Lords Place, with new kerb and guttering on both sides of the street completed, and new footpaths on both sides of the street all but finished.
"The 2.6-metre-wide median strip will assist with traffic flow in Lords Place, which will make it easier for someone on foot to cross the road safely," Cr Kidd said.
"A pedestrian crossing will be installed halfway along the block, outside 241 Lords Place."
"Once complete, the wider median strip will be the centrepiece of this street, with plantings of shrubs and trees."
Contractor Awcon will start the work from the Summer Street end of the block. The road will still be open to traffic, but parking on the western side will be affected as the work progresses towards Byng Street.
Eventually there will be no parking available on the western side of the block while the work is happening. Drivers will still be able to park on the Robertson Park side of the street.
Barriers and signage will be in place, but motorists are urged to slow down, pay attention and follow the directions of traffic controllers when driving in the area, as contractors will be working in the middle of the road.
CENTREPIECE: An impression of how the street will look when upgrades are complete.
