Search

  1. Home
  2. breadcrumbs separator
  3. breadcrumbs separator
  4. breadcrumbs separator

Safer Cumming Avenue Works Begin

Safer Cumming Avenue Works Begin 

Publish Date: 16 October 2020

A new era for the Birchip community has begun with the commencement of the Safer Cumming Avenue Project.

The $2.2 million project, which will address multiple road safety issues, improve footpath access, attend to drainage hotspots and beautify the area, has been a high priority for both Council and the Birchip community.

Funded by the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, the State Government’s Building Works package and Fixing Country Roads program and Council, the much-anticipated project will incorporate extensive rejuvenation to the main thoroughfare with an aim of capitalising on tourism potential.

Amongst a raft of improvements, upgrades will include:

  • Removal of vehicle turning areas at Rundle and Lockwood Street, to reduce the traffic bottleneck/hazard at the Supermarket/Bakery area.
  • Continuation of the green median for the length of Cumming Avenue.
  • Reduction to one lane for both northbound and southbound roadways and inclusion of a reversing/bicycle lane.
  • Redesign of car parking allocations and angles to provide safer parking and reversing options for all commuters, including new car parking options for mobility-impaired drivers/passengers with direct ramp access from carpark to footpath.
  • Installation of increased footpath crossovers, including access to the median/Mallee Bull/signage areas.
  • New underground drainage along the west side of Cumming Avenue, to mitigate the flooding of the main shopping precinct. This will also involve the installation of a new drainage culvert crossing Cumming Avenue from east to west, close to the new five-ways pedestrian crossing.
  • Footpath and kerb and channel replacement from Morrison/Queen Street through to the five-ways intersection at Campbell St. This also includes replacement of kerb and channel in the median strip between traffic lanes.
  • The installation of new alfresco landscaped eating areas in front of Sharp’s Bakery and the Birchip Cafe.
  • Removal of all existing median and footpath street trees from Cumming Avenue from the Campbell Street five-ways intersection through to Morrison/Queen Street. Works also include installation of new drought-resistant tree varieties, landscaping and irrigation improvements.
  • New signage and street furniture (bin surrounds, seating, bike rack, etc.).

The redesign of car parking allocations and angles to provide safer parking and reversing options for all commuters, including new car parking options for mobility-impaired drivers/passengers with direct ramp access from carpark to footpath will be a welcome addition.

Close consultation between Council and the local community has successfully enabled a melding of legal compliance with aspirational vision to bring about this major transformation.

While the six-month project will see unavoidable disruptions, Council and the Birchip Community Forum will keep residents and businesses updated through shopfront postings and information in the local press and on social media.  

Council has established a dedicated page on its website, which will also provide regular updates at: https://www.buloke.vic.gov.au/birchip-safer-cumming-avenue-streetscape-works

End release 
For further information contact Manager Customer Engagement, Travis Fitzgibbon on 03 5478 0181 or tfitzgibbon@buloke.vic.gov.au

IN THIS SECTION