Work has started on Yarral Ave, East Tamworth, with just over 200m of water main to be replaced.

The new main will be placed under the footpath, rather than under the road.

It will be followed by new kerb and guttering and rehabilitation of the road, including stabilisation with lime, reshaping to improve runoff to the gutter and a new two-coat bitumen seal.

The budgeted cost of the water main replacement is about $100,000, while about $320,000 has been set aside for the street and roadworks, which are expected to take six weeks.

In mid-June, roadwork will start on a 600m stretch of Johnston St, from Hyman St to Dean St, which will include a $350,000 upgraded causeway.

The roadworks in both streets are funded under the federal government’s Roads to Recovery Program.

The mains in both streets were earmarked for renewal under council’s Water Main Replacement Strategy, but the roadworks provide the ideal opportunity to also relocate the main from under the road to under the footpath.

TRC civil constructions manager Graeme McKenzie said each location would end up with a new water main and a greatly improved road.

“There will unfortunately be some impact to property access and on-street parking, as well as minor disruption to the water supply, but this is not able to be avoided in either location and we have planned work to minimise those impacts,” Mr McKenzie said.

“As work progresses, our construction crews will give residents more information, including specific times for any possible access issues or water supply disruptions.”