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Landscaping work starts around newly opened underpassInitial landscaping around the new Morwell underpass will commence this week, signalling the commencement of another stage in a project linking the Princes Drive and Commercial Road precincts. By Latrobe City Council - 8th May 2006 - Back to News While there is plenty of work to be undertaken to complete the project, safety barriers have now been rolled back and the public have been able to use the new underpass for the first time.
Landscaping will initially start on the Princes Drive side, followed by earthworks and hard landscaping work such as paving and brick retaining walls on the Commercial Road side.
During the next stage of the project the VicTrack contractor will return to fill and close the old underpass.
Latrobe City’s capital works coordinator, Paul Henderson, said construction works are likely to be completed in June 2006 subject to not being unduly delayed by the VicTrack contractor completing closure of the old underpass or by weather.
Mr Henderson said the new underpass, just 10.9 metres long, is less than half the length of the existing structure.
"It is more than twice as wide and higher than the existing facility. The open vista either side of the underpass together with improved lighting and closed circuit tv cameras provide a sense of safety, security and confidence for those crossing between Commercial Road and Princes Drive. The access pathways have been constructed at a gentle gradient to ensure there is user friendly access for those with prams or wheelchairs."
Councillor Darrell White welcomed the physical opening of the new underpass, but cautioned there was still plenty of work to be done before the project could be considered ‘opened’. "There will be restricted areas fenced off for landscaping works, for the construction of the new toilet facility and for backfilling the old subway. When those works are all completed we will be able to declare the project ‘officially open’," Cr White said.
"From the point of view of creating a far more accessible link between the two commercial areas, we can say we have now reached that stage - a long held key vision of the Morwell CBD Revitalisation Taskforce.
"This outcome represents a major improvement on the old long and winding subway. However, we still need to use a little imagination at this stage to envisage how good it is going to look when completed."
Mr Henderson said some of the final landscaping of the area will be completed by a work for dole crew at a later stage. However, the main plaza area between the shops and new underpass should be open to the public in mid to late June 2006.
"Design drawings for the new toilet facility have now been completed and construction is likely to be commence in late May, with completion envisaged during August," Mr Henderson added.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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