Road users, pedestrians and retailers keen to see the results of months of construction work on the Margaret River Main Street received a long-awaited reward on Friday with a section of the road opened to the public.
The newly opened road stretches from the Tunbridge Street-Churchill Avenue intersection - dubbed the 'peanut-a-bout' or 'jellybean' by locals - to Willmott Avenue.
Shire President Ian Earl was on hand on Friday to mark the occasion alongside a large group of construction and road workers who have been manning the site.
Shire Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Addison-Brown said completion of the section was an exciting milestone, as completion of the entire project draws nearer.
"Crews have been working against the clock to complete this section and everyone involved is thrilled to see cars, bikes and people making the most of this section of our main street," Ms Addison-Brown said.
"The improvement to the street is significant and the Shire would like to thank the Main Street traders and wider community for their patience and support.
"We also thank the crew from Busselton Civil and Plant Hire and sub-contractors for their hard work through all kinds of weather as well as the challenges presented by COVID-19.
"Business owners on the main street and the community can now look forward to more good news as we work towards getting the whole project done in time for Christmas."
Margaret River Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MRCCI) President Melissa Rose said the chamber joined in the collective excitement of the community.
"As the fences were removed and traffic following through, I believe there was a welcome sigh of relief for many traders," she said.
"It has been a challenging year to say the least and having the street looking fantastic and open in time for the impending holidays is seen as a turning point for many struggling businesses.
"We have already noticed an improvement in foot traffic and sales at the Margaret River Artisan Store.
"It's been blow after blow this year for small businesses but we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel."