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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Lanie Tindale

Once-neglected street can see a future as the next Lonsdale Street

It's a street perhaps best known for a drive-through Maccas, elusive city parking spots, and a shortcut to avoid traffic lights.

But the makeover of Braddon's once-neglected Mort Street has left businesses believing it will become known for much more.

A new intersection

Owners of Kivotos George Giannoulis and Anita Ling near the redeveloped intersection of Mort and Elouera street. Picture by Keegan Carroll

An upgraded intersection was actually designed to support Lonsdale Street rather than the parallel Mort Street.

The community wanted an easier walk to the Elouera Street light rail stop, the City Renewal Authority says.

However, the upgrade should be another step towards a better connected Braddon and city precinct.

The authority has further plans to connect Civic and Braddon by making Cooyong Street more pedestrian friendly.

'A lot more volume and traffic'

The intersection of Elouera and Mort streets in Braddon reopened on Friday afternoon.

A roundabout was replaced with a pedestrian-friendly, raised intersection. It has four zebra crossings.

Owner of new eatery Taco Boi Yokas Wu was busily preparing food for the lunchtime rush.

He believed his location on Mort Street will help his business succeed.

"[There are so many] good restaurants here. The Peacemaker Saloon, they are very busy, so they are bringing a lot more volume and traffic through. I do see a very good chance here," Mr Wu said.

Taco Boi owner Yokas Wu. Picture by Keegan Carroll

The eatery opened in mid-May, soon after construction began in April.

Trade has boomed since the intersection opened a few days ago, Mr Wu said.

Trendy bar vibes

"Casual, upbeat" whisky bar The Peacemaker Saloon only opened 11 weeks ago.

It is owned by the team behind Volstead Repeal, a popular and intimate bar up the road.

Co-owner Stu Inger imagines Mort Street will be distinct from Lonsdale.

The Peacemaker Saloon co-owners Stu Inger, Gua Burns and Paul Heylin. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"Lonsdale Street is very restaurant, more pub and cafe focused," he said.

"[Mort Street] could be a little more trendy bar focused.

"It's a point of difference compared to Lonsdale Street."

The formerly industrial Mort Street has been somewhat forgotten, BentSpoke Brewing Company's co-owner Richard Watkins said.

BentSpoke co-owner Richard Watkins. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong

BentSpoke has a pub on the corner of Elouera and Mort Streets.

"It's great to see the government spending money and upgrading what is a very old part of town," Mr Watkins said.

"I do see that Mort Street will evolve. Lonsdale Street is pretty full now.

"It would be good to see more hospitality offerings open up and continue the precinct into [Mort] Street."

He said a variety of different hospitality offerings would make Mort Street buzz.

More people, pedestrians

Owners of Kivotos George Giannoulis and Anita Ling near the redeveloped intersection of Mort and Elouera street. Picture by Keegan Carroll

Across the road from The Peacemaker Saloon is Greek wine bar Kivotos.

Owners George Giannoulis and Anita Ling also hope Mort Street will thrive

They expect it might take a few years.

"[We want] more people, more pedestrians," Mr Giannoulis said.

It is too early to tell if the intersection will increase foot traffic, and they are waiting on the government to repair an uneven pathway in front of the restaurant.

While business is now back to normal, it struggled during the five months the intersection was upgraded.

Taco Boi owner Yokas Wu. Picture by Keegan Carroll

Trade dropped by 30 per cent.

Similarly, Bentspoke's Braddon Brew Pub saw a 15 per cent drop in trade during the same time period.

"[It] is a significant impact to our businesses. There's a lot of money that we lost during that time," Mr Watkins said.

"There were a lot of days were people weren't working. There wasn't that rush to get it done."

Mr Watkins also wishes the government had advertised the re-opening more aggressively to support the impacted businesses.

He said the intersection could have included a bike path and a clearer distinction between the road and path.

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