Roadworks stop over Easter

Roadwork at the Australind Bypass and Vittoria Road intersection will cease for Easter to improve traffic flow.

The construction team is expected to stop work early Thursday afternoon and resume Tuesday morning.

The intersection will be fully operational, but traffic will be restricted to 60kmh in both directions.

When the team returns it will have a busy couple of weeks to reach a new completion deadline in April that was extended due to a delay in service relocations.

Main Roads South West operations director Brett Belstead said despite the services setback, the work would not be delayed for long.

“We are on track to finish mid- April,” he said.

Last week workers were excavating in an effort to finalise drainage solutions and slip lanes.

They were also required to secure the gas pipeline, located beneath the road, with a concrete slab to protect it during construction.

Mr Belstead said the budget was on track but commuters would not see traffic lights for another two to three weeks.

Included with these upgrades is the need to consider the relocation of Bunbury Farmer’s Markets to the former Waldeck’s site.

The City of Bunbury recently approved the move but is waiting on final approval from the WA Planning Commission.

City of Bunbury planning and development services director Bob Karaszwych said plans had been drafted to accommodate the business development.

“Main Roads WA has prepared a draft road design concept for Vittoria Road to allow for some considerable distance from the intersection with the Australind bypass,” he said.