A ONCE drab street through Queanbeyan's central business district was awash with colour yesterday, as people crowded in to see its relaunch as the Crawford Street Lifestyle Precinct.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A $4.45 million rejuvenation project has revamped the 150-year-old streetscape and corrected steep footpaths which had been difficult for wheelchair-users to navigate.
The opening also brought to an end nine months of construction work.
Mayor Tim Overall thanked business owners for their patience yesterday in his speech to officially open the street.
''There was a lot of consultation with business owners but it was a complex task,'' he said. ''There's never a right time to do these kinds of works.''
Cr Overall said he acknowledged criticism of the project and the hardship of traders who had to cope with construction in their street at the same time that retailers across the eastern states of Australia experienced a downturn.
However, Cr Overall said the project was needed and would help promote local businesses.
''Crawford Street used to be seriously run down and for our city centre it was embarrassing,'' he said.
''We had four lanes of traffic and footpaths that were pedestrian and wheelchair unfriendly.
''The whole concept of this precinct is to put people before the cars which will create a new vibrancy that is conducive to restaurants and cafes and alfresco dining.
''This had been delivered on time and within its budget and will promote businesses in the street.''
Queanbeyan business owner Sean Davey, of The Photography Room, said he was pleased to see Crawford Street open and looking bright.
''There's been a lot of roadworks, it's been a construction zone but to have it open and have good walkways and a good-looking streetscape off Monaro Street is really great,'' he said.