Greater Shepparton City Council is undertaking consultation with landowners and occupiers of land along Welsford Street on the draft concept designs for the next stages of the Welsford Street Upgrade, between High Street and Sobraon Street.
The Welsford Street Upgrade is a six-stage project that seeks to cater for Welsford Street’s role as a busy north-south arterial road, by increasing road capacity while improving traffic flow, safety and amenity for vehicles and pedestrians.
The upgrade is a key outcome of the Shepparton CBD Strategy 2008 and the Shepparton and Mooroopna 2050: Regional City Growth Plan, which seek to improve access to the CBD by reducing through traffic and redirecting freight and non-local traffic onto alternative routes.
The six-stage upgrade will aim to gradually improve the amenity of the Shepparton CBD by relocating non-local and heavy traffic to Welsford Street, and creating a safer and more pedestrian attractive environment on Wyndham Street.
To date, Council has constructed Stages 1 to 4 of the upgrade between Knight Street and Fryers Street.
Council has prepared draft concept designs for Stages 5 and 6 of the upgrade, which will seek to upgrade Welsford Street south of the Fryers Street intersection, to the intersection of Wyndham and Sobraon Streets.
The draft concept designs have been prepared by Stantec Australia Pty Ltd and have been informed by undertaking transport network modelling, comments from Council officers and State Government agencies, as well as submissions received from the community during the pre-draft consultation phase which took place between 25 July 2022 and 26 August 2022.
The features of the draft concept designs include;
· Intersection improvements at Welsford Street/High Street, and Sobraon/Wyndham Street with additional turning lanes;
· Modified intersection at Welsford Street/Vaughan Street to allow for only left-turn in and left-turn out movements with improved pedestrian infrastructure;
· A new pedestrian and cycling shared path on the western side of Welsford Street; and
· The retention of most trees where possible;
· Undergrounding powerlines in Welsford Street where possible
Draft consultation will take place from today, Monday 21 August 2023, and will close on Monday 18 September 2023, with details available on Council’s Shaping Greater Shepp website at https://shaping.greatershepparton.com.au/. Feedback can be emailed to council@shepparton.vic.gov.au, completed online at https://shaping.greatershepparton.com.au or posted to Greater Shepparton City Council, Locked Bag 1000, Shepparton VIC 3632.
Further information about the Welsford Street upgrade can be found on Council’s website at greatershepparton.com.au/welsford-street-redevelopment.
