Smith Street footpath upgrade

Announcement

Due to ongoing wet weather, this project has experienced delays and has not progressed as swiftly as intended. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Summary 

Shoppers and businesses on Smith Street will get a safer, smoother footpath and pedestrians concerned about uneven pavers on Smith Street will soon be able to walk with confidence.

Phase One

Kempsey Shire Council is upgrading the footpath on the western side of Smith St in the Kempsey CBD. The 270-metre-long by 4-metre-wide section of existing pavers is being replaced with honed concrete. Honed concrete refers to a level of grinding that produces an even and smooth, matte finish.

We are carrying out these works only on weekends to minimise inconvenience. Works will be carried out on weekends.

The work is being conducted section by section across nine 30-metre-long sections starting at Forth St and working down to Belgrave St. Construction on each section will require two separate weekends. Concrete will be poured on one weekend. It will be honed on a second weekend at least two weeks later.

These sections will be usable on all other weekends. The entire footpath will be usable on weekdays.

During works, the northbound lane of Smith Street between Belgrave St and Forth St will be closed, with traffic management in place. Pedestrians will be provided alternate routes and every effort will be made to ensure minimum impact.

The existing pavers will be used to replace broken pavers in the landscaped areas at Forth Street and at the pedestrian crossing. Maintenance and usage on the eastern side has left the footpath in a condition where staff can extend the life of the existing pavers.

Phase Two

Kempsey is about to get a safer and more accessible town centre, with a major footpath upgrade on the Eastern side of Smith Street kicking off Saturday, 19 October. The project aims to eliminate the tripping hazards caused by uneven pavers, creating a safer, smoother footpath for everyone.

The works, carried out by Kempsey Shire Council, will be completed in sections over the next 11 weekends, starting at the Belgrave Street end. Each section will be tackled in two stages to ensure minimal disruption for local businesses and pedestrians.

On Saturdays, the existing pavers will be removed, and temporary ramps will be installed to maintain access to shops. By Sunday, new concrete will be poured, ready for pedestrian use by Monday morning.

Two weeks after the concrete is laid, each section will be honed to provide a finished, smooth surface that improves both safety and aesthetics. This careful planning ensures that the community continues to have easy access to the vibrant shops and services on Smith Street, while reaping the long-term benefits of a safer footpath.

Please be advised that southbound traffic from Frederickton will be temporarily closed during the footpath upgrade. Diversions will be in place to guide motorists around the work zone, ensuring the safety of both road users and workers. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to follow the posted signage to avoid any inconvenience.

This fully grant-funded project represents a significant investment in Kempsey’s public infrastructure, with the overall goal of enhancing safety and walkability.

Timeline 

Works began on Saturday 20 April.

June: The project team has completed approximately half of the footpath replacement. By the end of 20 June, 3/4 of the footpath replacement will have been completed on the western side (weather permitting). Council staff will remove the pavers for approximately 30+ meters on Saturday afternoon. The following Saturday the team installs formwork and reinforcement, and on the Sunday, the team will pour the path, 30+ meters at a time.

August 

 

Council is committed to improving our main street and supporting local business. Council is working with neighbouring shops and is aiming for the works to have limited impact on trading. There will be additional noise and some inconvenience experienced by nearby residents and businesses during this time due to construction, truck movements and traffic redirection. Staff will take care to protect the mature trees in this area.

Keep an eye out for the works and please forgive any inconvenience.

Contact details

Location

Smith Street, Kempsey 2440  View Map