THE Kelso Fruit Market has re-opened its doors after road works on the Great Western Highway led to its closure for close to nine months. Now the work is done owners Merrick and Jason Browne are hoping their customers will come back.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The business closed temporarily when heavy equipment used in the road construction work was housed on the site while the nearby bridge was being built.
The fruit market has traded at Kelso for the past 34 years.
Fortunately that bridge work is now complete and the Brownes have use of their land back.
They were compensated by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) while the plant was housed there, however, they are thrilled to be able to reopen again.
Mr Browne said he fears surrounding road works may deter some people from stopping in, however, access to the fruit market is very easy with customers able to drive straight in off the highway. There is also plenty of room to park on site.
“We moved everything back in on Thursday,” Mr Browne said. “It was a big job.”
The fruit market will be open seven days a week. The market stocks fruit from the family orchard, including peaches, apples, cherries and nectarines, as well as a wide range of vegetables, honey, nuts, sweets, eggs, and dried fruits.
Mr Browne said he is concerned that businesses along the Great Western Highway are doing it tough while the road works are in progress.
“We used to be a big business. We were flat out on weekends. I hope it builds back up,” he said.
“We really value our customers. Nearly all of our regulars have already been in.
“I really hope the community supports us too.”
The $85 million upgrade involves widening the highway to provide a four-lane divided road with a central concrete medium along with intersection improvement work.
A 2.4-kilometre section of the highway will be widened from just west of the Stockland Drive intersection to just east of Ashworth Drive near the Gold Panner Motor Inn.
The road works on the Great Western Highway at Kelso are expected to continue until the end of 2016.
