York Street businesses brace for roadworks

The City of Albany will try to minimise the effect of York Street upgrades on local businesses.

The $700,000 upgrade will convert upper York Street into a single-lane road with a roundabout at the intersection between York Street and Serpentine Road to decrease traffic congestion.

The upgrades, expected to start next month, will also include widening pedestrian crossings and replacing the old street lights with energy-efficient lighting.

Featherstonehaugh owner Sue Newbold said she was concerned about the disruption the upgrades would cause her businesses and hoped the works would deliver on their promises.

"It's hard to tell whether it will be better, but I'm hoping because it's going ahead, it will be," she said.

"If it does impede on businesses, are there options they (the City) have thought about for small business owners?

"I'm happy about more parking, I just hope the time limit on parking is reasonable so people can do their shopping - anything under an hour is a waste of time."

Ms Newbold said she was also concerned that the single lane would only increase congestion along York Street.

Frangipani Floral Studio owner Leslie Nesbitt said the upgrades would be good for the City and he hoped it would help slow down the traffic coming off the roundabout. "Stirling Terrace is beautiful and York Street would be good if it had more alfresco (like Stirling Terrace); it's time for it," he said.

Mr Nesbitt said he was concerned about the upgrades having an impact on businesses but he said it was long overdue, so he was willing to put up with the disruptions.

"You've got to give and take," he said. "We need more seats and plants in the street, we need more landscaping and I think any improvement is great."

City of Albany works and services executive director Matthew Thomson said businesses were consulted before the upgrades and would continue to be involved as a traffic management plan is developed to maintain customer access to affected businesses.

"The City will at all times strive to minimise disruption to businesses as much as possible," he said.

"Road closures will be necessary for works to be completed in a timely manner, however these closures will be minimised as far as it is practicable.

"When full road closures are in place, the City will work closely with businesses to ensure customers are aware that affected shops are open for business and to highlight alternative parking areas."

Footpaths will also remain open during the works.