There's more to a roundabout that first meets the eye.
DONE & DUSTED: Thirty of the estimated 76 staff involved in the construction of Orange's new roundabout gather for a group-photo to celebrate the completion of the job.
In short: The completion of a roundabout puts the spotlight on how they are built.
Thirty of the estimated 76 staff involved in the construction of Orange's new roundabout gather for a group-photo
What's next: Locals enjoy better traffic flow and improved safety.
Orange's newest roundabout has opened for traffic.
The first cars and trucks started flowing through the intersection, at the corner of Hill and Moulder Streets on Thursday (15 August), after a construction period that lasted about 15 weeks.
It's estimated around 80 Council staff and contractors worked on the project.
Council CEO, David Waddell, thanked the staff involved in the project.
"The crews have done a great job delivering this new roundabout, and it's been nice to hear how well they've worked with the local community as the project came together," Mr Waddell said.
"I've been sent a number of messages from neighbours who've been walking past the site as the roundabout was built in recent months. They've commented how friendly and co-operative the crew has been while the work was underway."
"There's a whole lot more to the process of building a roundabout than most people will imagine. I was surprised to learn around 80 people had a hands-on role in this project."
TRAFFIC: Drivers are getting used to the new traffic patterns at the Moulder/Hill Street corner.
The first stages of the project saw the removal of the previous roadway and the installation of new stormwater drainage and water main renewals.
To build the roundabout, the site had to be excavated down to a depth of 500mm. After adding new pavement foundations, the concrete was poured to shape the inner ring before the roadway was topped with 250mm of hot mix asphalt.
The project also included the construction of nearby concrete footpaths, re-locating power poles, new trees, landscaping, and line marking.
Orange City Council received $900,000 in funding from the Australian Government's Black Spot Program to upgrade the intersection.
Mr Waddell thanked the community for their patience during the project.
