After a ''generation of debating'' what to do with Balclutha's main street, work will begin this month, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan says.
A $2.3 million contract for an eight-month construction project was awarded at a Clutha District Council meeting last week.
Only two tenders were received for the project and the successful one was 23% over the engineer's estimate.
But the council was unanimous in its approval, Mr Cadogan said.
After a series of delays, including going back to the drawing board for the planned upgrade when the council acquired land in Clyde St and reconsulting the public on new plans last year, the council announced the tendering process in January with an anticipated start date of March.
Mr Cadogan said while delays in the process were frustrating, it was important the process was followed.
''It's frustrated me. It's frustrated the whole community. We're a council using ratepayers' money and we're taking a major step here and we've got to be conscious of the community's needs and hopes,'' he said.
''The reality was that was the time it took, frustrating as it was.''
He hoped the project, expected to be completed by November, would have a ''flow-on effect'' that benefited the entire district.
''It's a defining point for us,'' he said.
''We've got a beautiful district and we're a wealthy district and there are so many positive things in our district happening, but we tend not to portray that in our main street. We've done ourselves a disservice and it's time to put a positive foot forward.''
District assets manager Jules Witt said putting power lines underground in Clyde St would happen at the same time as the project.
There would be discussions with contractors to ensure work had a minimal impact on the town and its main street businesses, he said.
He expected the eight-month project to disrupt parking and pedestrian access to areas of the town centre for short periods, but Clyde St, State Highway 1 through Balclutha, would not be closed for much of the time work was under way.
There would be traffic diversions, but ''not a huge amount''.
''It may well be open one-way the whole time,'' Mr Witt said.
''The only time there's actually work on the street is the pedestrian crossings. The bulk of the rest of the work, they can potentially work in the parking lanes and those sorts of things.
''We would be hopeful that if we can get the timing right and manage the work properly that there won't be major detours for long periods of time.''
The unsuccessful tender for the work came in at $2.9 million.
The project received an approved budget of $2.6 million last year.
Mr Witt said funds in the project reserves were sufficient for this first stage.
The council has received confirmation of a $200,000 contribution to the project from the New Zealand Transport Agency for street lighting.
