Work continues on four major road upgrades

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the latest round of major upgrades have been on high profile roads and would make a significant difference to Orange’s road network.

“Sections of William Street, Cargo Road, Burrendong Way and Leeds Parade have all received major work over the last fortnight and will continue to be upgraded in the coming weeks,” Cr Kidd said.

“We’ve received a lot of feedback about these particular roads and it’s great to see the expectations of Orange residents lining-up with council’s own list of projects for road spending.

Contractors completed the first stage of a rehabilitation on William Street this week and laid a temporary gravel surface.

A separate contactor is due to arrive next week to finish the road with a hot-mix asphalt surface.

“Crews have dug up 170 metres of William Street to a depth of 430mm, between Byng Street and March Street, added new gravel in the lower layer and strengthened it with cement” Cr Kidd said.

“The road will be finished with a 220mm hot-mix asphalt surface to match the work completed on the block immediately north of these works.”

“That’s expected to be done next week, over three nights from Sunday, weather permitted.

“That section of William Street will be closed from 6.30pm to 6am each night, but customers will still be able to access Officeworks and the Cinema.

“This job will complete the William Street upgrade, which began last road building season and included the section between March Street and Dalton Street.”

Meanwhile, council crews have completed an upgrade of one section of Cargo Road, an 850 metre long section from the council boundary at Neals Lane to Witton Place. It was sealed, with a bitumen-gravel surface, last week.

Orange City Council’s Infrastructure Chair Cr Sam Romano said stage two of the Cargo Road upgrade is expected to begin in the coming fortnight, with a tender recently awarded for storm water drains.

“Roads like Cargo Road used to be rural lanes, with little to no drainage, and as the city has expanded and more and more people are building homes on the outskirts of the city. It’s important we spend the time and effort in putting in adequate storm water drains,” Cr Romano said.

“This type of infrastructure will help protect and maintain the road for longer.”

Road crews have also been working this week on the last 590 metres section of the Leeds Parade upgrade and are expected to remain on the job for another fortnight.

“As crews work closer to the bypass, there will be some delays on the Leeds Parade roundabout,” Cr Romano said.

“One lane of the roundabout will remain open the entire time but traffic will be slowed, so avoid the area if you can.

“The Leeds Parade upgrade has been a community priority for a long time and it’s good to see that two kilometre upgrade coming to an end.

“The road will be finished off with a bitumen spray seal with hot-mix overlay on the intersections.

“Weather permitting, it will hopefully be finished in the next couple of weeks.”

Meanwhile, council crews are also working building a new culvert at the Canobolas Road and Stanford Lane to

“During the winter months, when water flows in the causeway, sprays of water can turn to ice.

“We’re putting in a culvert to stop that problem, making the trip safer for Orange drivers.

“It’s full steam ahead for council’s roadworks and, if the weather stays on our side, we’re on track to make a big difference this road building season.”