But Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says the pedestrian refuge is designed to improve sight lines for pedestrians and motorists.

Hastings Bowls Centre owner Janine Paine sees the need for a safe crossing point and would like a pedestrian crossing closer to Coles for safety reasons.

"We have an ageing population and they are just not quick enough to get across there," she said about the pedestrian refuge.

"Someone is going to get hit. People speed around that corner."

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council director Dan Bylsma said the pedestrian refuge would improve safety as there was no longer the need for pedestrians to walk between cars to cross the road and it also provided a safe refuge in the middle of the road.

"Due to the proximity with the Horton Street intersection, a formalised pedestrian crossing is not possible due to vehicles potentially queuing around the corner into Horton Street and through the existing roundabout," he said.

"As with any pedestrian refuge, all users need to be aware of their surrounding environment in order to safely cross the road."

Judi Glanville from Bubbles Laundry believes the pedestrian refuge is better than maintaining the status quo but she has concerns about the location.

"I can see why they have done it but it's not in a good place," she said.

"A pedestrian crossing is definitely needed down near Coles as well."

Bubbles Laundry manager Taya Hutton echoed those sentiments.

Royal Far West volunteer Joan Collins is concerned the pedestrian refuge location could be dangerous when motorists are concentrating on the traffic.

Ruins on Hayward manager Ben Hill believes the pedestrian refuge is too close to the corner.

The state government provided $125,000 for the project.

The council sought community views in mid-2018 about then proposed designs for pedestrian and traffic management upgrades at key Port Macquarie CBD locations.

The Horton/Hayward Street pedestrian refuge was among those projects.

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