Ararat Rural City Council will soon begin works to upgrade the existing pedestrian crossing on Barkly Street, Ararat, to a raised pedestrian crossing, improving safety and accessibility for people walking in the heart of the CBD.
The new crossing will be built at the site of the existing signalised crossing on Barkly Street, with works scheduled to start on Tuesday 17 March and expected to take approximately four weeks to complete, subject to weather. Traffic management will be in place, and the works will be staged in two halves so that vehicles can continue to travel through Barkly Street while construction progresses.
Footpaths on both sides of Barkly Street will remain open for the duration of the works, ensuring people can continue to access nearby shops and services from either side of the crossing. Council is encouraging drivers and pedestrians to follow all signage, slow down around the work site, and allow extra time when travelling through the area.
The upgrade is being delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government through the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). The program focuses on small‑to‑medium, high‑benefit pedestrian safety upgrades at priority locations, co‑delivered with councils and other road managers. The program focuses on applying Safe System principles, including lower speeds, separation from traffic, and better protection for people walking near activity centres, shops, schools, and public transport.
Ararat Rural City Council CEO, Dr Tim Harrison, said the Barkly Street upgrade was another step in making it easier and safer for people to move around Ararat on foot.
"This project is about using best‑practice design to give people a safer, more comfortable crossing point in one of our busiest streets," Dr Harrison said. "We know from both the evidence and community feedback that safer crossings, slower vehicle speeds, and clear priority for pedestrians make a real difference to how people use the CBD, and this upgrade delivers on that."
"Council appreciates the patience of nearby traders, residents, and visitors while these works are underway," Dr Harrison said. "There will be some short‑term disruption, but the outcome will be a safer, better‑designed crossing that supports people of all ages and abilities to move around Barkly Street with confidence. I encourage everyone to follow the traffic management in place and to continue supporting our local businesses throughout the construction period."
