If you've been watching the progress on the Ivanhoe Road intersection upgrade, you'll know that major infrastructure projects like this happen in stages.

The good news is that the first phase is now complete, but the next step means some temporary changes are coming to how people get around town.

Starting July 7, work crews will begin the upgrade of McCabe Street itself, which means the road between Market Street and Ivanhoe Road will need to be temporarily closed to allow the work to proceed safely and efficiently.

What's happening and why

The McCabe Street closure is necessary to widen, upgrade and resurface the road – essentially giving this important town thoroughfare the makeover it needs to handle modern traffic demands.

While the earthworks phase is complete, the road construction work requires the kind of heavy machinery and materials that simply can't operate safely with traffic flowing through.

It's the kind of project that causes short-term inconvenience but delivers long-term benefits for everyone who uses this part of town.

Getting around during the closure

The road closure doesn't mean you'll be cut off from where you need to go.

A detour will be in place via Market Street and Myall Street, keeping traffic flowing while the construction crews get on with their work.

All the essential access points will remain open during the closure.

You'll still be able to reach Island Road and Bourke Road, and access to Market Street from Church Street's eastern end will be maintained.

Local businesses and residents won't be stranded – the detour routes are designed to keep the town accessible.

Special considerations

The project team has been particularly mindful of maintaining access to important community facilities.

The Aboriginal Cemetery and Motorcyclist Track will remain accessible throughout the work period, ensuring that these significant locations aren't affected by the construction.

For oversized vehicles that can't use the standard detour routes, special arrangements can be made.

These vehicles can be directed under escort through the McCabe Street alignment when required, though this will need to be coordinated with the construction schedule.

Keeping connected

Major infrastructure projects can raise questions and concerns, and the project team understands that.

If you have queries about transport routes or any other aspect of the upgrade, you can contact them directly via email at [email protected] or through the 24/7 Iluka community hotline on 1800 305 993.

Having that direct line of communication means you don't have to guess about what's happening or when – you can get answers from the people managing the project.

The bigger picture

This McCabe Street upgrade is part of a broader infrastructure improvement that will benefit Balranald for years to come.

Better roads mean safer travel, improved access for emergency services, and infrastructure that can handle the demands of a growing community.

The temporary inconvenience of detours and construction activity is the price we pay for infrastructure that will serve the community well into the future.

It's the kind of investment that shows confidence in the town's ongoing development and growth.

Planning ahead

The closure will remain in place until the road work is completed, so it's worth planning your routes accordingly.

The detour via Market Street and Myall Street will become familiar to regular users, and like most temporary changes, it will soon become part of the routine.

For businesses along the affected route, the maintained access points and escort arrangements for larger vehicles mean that operations can continue, albeit with some adjustments to delivery schedules and customer access.