Fischer Street reopens to traffic

A SECTION of a busy Torquay street has been reopened following months of roadworks.

Construction on the section of Fischer Street first began on March 9 but faced delays as a result of asbestos.

Located between Darian Road and Highlander Street, the work was funded through the federal government’s Roads to Recovery program.

After four months, the stretch was reopened to the public with line marking completed on July 9.

In April, project manager Lisa Robinson said the delays were “due to the location of some ageing services, and requirements to get permission from two service authorities to work over their assets”.

The assets included an old Barwon Water asbestos main installed at a depth deemed not up to standard, as well as a Telstra line running through an asbestos conduit.

At the time of discovery, Telstra reported it would require two days to close the street to traffic in order to remove the asbestos and replace two pits but could not provide a date at that stage.

Ms Robinson had said the removal of the asbestos conduit would be completed under the strictest safety conditions while preventing the water main from being exposed during the works.

The Torquay Town Centre Urban Design Framework, developed in 2017, stated Fischer Street was a key access road that “has consistently provided the third-most used vehicular access into the town”.

The reopening of the section of road comes as more streetwork begins on Fischer Street between Zeally Bay and Beach roads.

Beginning today (July 15), the Surf Coast Shire commenced construction to formalise car parking in the area as part of the council’s Connecting Torquay Town Centre strategy.

The works will be under the control of traffic management, with the project anticipated to take up to eight weeks.

Residents have been warned of the potential for some lane closures and delays in the area.