Bega Valley Shire Council Launches Merimbula Traffic Upgrades

The Bega Valley Shire Council will begin implementing traffic upgrades in Merimbula on August 10, 2026, to improve pedestrian safety and reduce bottlenecks. The project includes constructing mini-roundabouts at the intersections of Main Street with Sapphire Coast Drive and Market Street, alongside transitioning Beach Street into a one-way eastbound lane.

Construction is scheduled to continue through mid-September. To facilitate the work, a section of the Beach Street foreshore car park will close on August 6 for a construction compound, and overnight road closures between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. will begin on August 17.

The project is funded by a $2.8 million grant from the Australian government through the Investing in Our Communities Program. Despite the funding, the plan faces local opposition, with a council survey indicating that 53.3% of respondents oppose the changes. The council intends to use temporary traffic monitoring cameras to gather data, delaying a final decision on whether to make the upgrades permanent until March 2027.