Road closure as $4.1m project takes shape

PARK St, Coolum will be closed to traffic from Monday until 5pm Friday, October 26 as stage four of the Coolum Streetscape Project along the esplanade continues.

The street will remain open for pedestrians but vehicular access to the library, civic centre and community will be via Elizabeth St, through the Coolum Bowls Club car park.

The closure is due to an extensive concrete pour, which requires time to cure.

The driveway between Freetime Surf and Coolum Beach Real Estate will also be closed to traffic until Tuesday. Alternative access will be provided via the northern adjacent car park.

Footpath work will also begin next week to the upper shop-side half of the footpath from McDonald's to Salty Dog Cellars.

Pedestrian access will be retained along the lower road-side footpath, with temporary walkways to each business to enable access.

From Red Rooster to Freetime Surf, demolition work and concreting the remainder of the new footpath area adjacent, to the kerb, will cause minimal disruption for pedestrians.

A stone, pitched seating wall will be constructed in front of Coolum Seafoods.

Kerbing and road works from PRD Realty to LiveLife Pharmacy will necessitate the temporary removal of some car parking spaces next week for contractor and equipment use. Demolition works and the construction of a new footpath will also continue.

The $4.1 million streetscape project was downgraded from the original $9.5 million upgrade to be part-funded by a ratepayer levy.

In June 2010, more than 70% of respondents to a council survey voiced their disapproval of the levy, which would have cost around $110 a year for most affected ratepayers.

The project was then downgraded to the less ambitious, fully-funded upgrade over five years.

Weather permitting, the council expects to complete this intensive stage of work prior to the scheduled deadline of the December summer school holidays.

For more information about the Coolum Streetscape Project, visit online at tiny.cc/5lx59.