Upper Mary Street gets a makeover

Upper Mary Street is set to be transformed over the coming months to revitalise the street into a more pedestrian-friendly space with an enhanced retail and commercial trading atmosphere.

Works will commence within the next few weeks and will include laying new footpath surfaces, planting street trees for added shade, installing new street furniture and installing improved street lighting which will help to better profile the street’s unique and historic buildings.

Councillor Daryl Dodt said construction will commence in mid-August, with major works expected to be completed by early December, just in time for Christmas. “We understand it’s important that the businesses operating along Upper Mary Street continue to trade throughout construction, so we have been careful to ensure that construction impacts on pedestrian access and parking are kept to a minimum,” he said.

The project will be completed in four phases; each phase is expected to take approximately four to five weeks to complete. The street will remain open to traffic during construction however, it will be reduced to one-way flow for extended periods. Pedestrians will be able to walk the street, as directed by construction signage, and will be able to access all businesses during normal business hours.

Much of the on street parking will be available during construction. In addition, the off-street car park at the top end of Mary Street will be open for public parking to help offset the loss of on-street car parks. Alternative public parking is available on nearby streets and under the Drakes shopping centre in Reef Street, with pedestrian access through Hanlon’s Arcade during business hours.

“The construction contract requires the contractor to minimise the amount of parking that is closed at any one time,” said Councillor Dodt. “We are determined that Upper Mary Street will remain accessible and open for business as usual during the construction period.”

The Upper Mary Street Revitalisation Project is jointly funded by Council and the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.