Work on a smart new public space for Oban begins on Monday.
Stafford Street by the North Pier is to be pedestrianised with new granite terraced seating area in front of the shops and cafes.
The £600,000 job, which will also see public wifi and special lighting installed, is being carried out by Ranesway for Argyll and Bute Council.
A public information meeting on Thursday night heard from Ranesway project manager John McCormack. He said: “The first phase starts on Monday with site clearance and excavation. Fencing is going round the perimeter of the site but access from Stafford Street to Corran Esplanade will still be in place.”
He added that the 20 workmen at the site would use the Corran Halls car park to avoid creating congestion at the North Pier car park.
The first phase of the work will run until Easter, after which the granite will be put in place.
Mr McCormack said: “There will be a little bit of disruption but all of the businesses will stay open throughout.”
The work is part of the council’s CHORD (Campbeltown Helensburgh Oban Rothesay and Dunoon) waterfronts project. The authority is investing £30million rejuvenating the waterfront areas of its main towns.
Linda Houston, Oban CHORD project manager for the council, said: “The area is being pedestrianized with a granite surface with nice terraced spaces where people can mingle and sit out.
“It will be up to the traders what they want to do with that space, there is the opportunity for them to get licences from the councill to get tables and chairs out.
“While it will be a space to do business, it is also a space for the community of Oban. With all the events Oban does, like the winter festival, the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival, the idea is that this space can be used for these things as well.
“We are providing the canvas on which other people can start creating.”
The next phase of the Oban CHORD work will see similar improvements to Station Square. This will take place from September 2015 to May 2016.