Regular visitors to the Nelson Bay town centre might have noticed the progress contractors have made on the Yacaaba Street extension with Easter approaching.
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When complete the $1.5 million project will establish a new connection for tourists and residents between the marina and the shopping precinct, with a clear line of sight now established.
The heavy machinery of recent weeks has eased with construction entering a new phase.
The kerb and guttering for the stretch of the soon-to-be paved road, between Magnus Street and Victoria Parade, has been laid.
Likewise, the foundations for the planter boxes have been poured, with blocks now laid into place.
“The bulk of the earthwork is done and dusted, we’re now onto building the structures,” Port Stephens Council’s capital works section manager Phil Miles said.
“What’s been laid is the backbone of the project and now we’re filling in the detail work.
“For people passing by they are starting to get a real sense of how it will look and feel when it’s finished.”
The project has sustained a number of delays since the Magnus Street shopfronts were demolished in September 2017.
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Work was called to a halt prior to Christmas, to avoid disruption to tourist trade, because of what the council said were unforeseen issues with underground utilities.
Electricity was shutdown to nearby shops on January 24 to relocate the power lines.
The contractor Daracon was then able to resume work in February.
At that point Mr Miles said it was council’s intention to have as much of the project open to the public at Easter and have it all finished in April.
One of the relocated light poles has however hampered progress.
“It’s for this reason we we’re reluctant to nominate a completion date but people will be able to walk along the road at Easter, while it is still closed to traffic,” he said.
“It won’t be paved but the gravel will be compacted. Between now and then it’s a matter of finishing off the gravel road and progressing the formed pedestrian area.”
Mr Miles praised the contractor and the crew’s efforts to keep work rolling.
“We’re happy with the product so far and while these issues do crop up they are an experienced contractor – the end product will be great,” he said.
“We now anticipate the project will be finished early May.”
The project has long been proposed as a means of revitalising the CBD.
Advocacy group Nelson Bay NOW brought renewed focus to the project in 2016. They said that a clear line of sight between the CBD and d’Albora Marina would encourage more tourists to venture up the hill.
