GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN!
South Rd overpass to include a cyclist facility
The following is an official Government press release not yet available online. You heard it here first.
The State Government will design a bicycle overpass for the northern side of the Glenelg Tramway Overpass project following comprehensive community consultation.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon and Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo said the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure had been working hard in recent months on complex infrastructure issues associated with the project.
“The Department has had many difficulties in finding a way to ensure continuity of tram services during construction while minimising the impact on the local area,” Mr Conlon said.
“We now believe we have come up with a scheme that - pending council approvals and further engineering work – will deliver an overpass for cyclists.”
Mr Conlon said the Government intended to build the bicycle facility immediately after trams begin using the main overpass.
Until then, trams will operate on two temporary tracks located along Norman and Glengyle Terraces, immediately adjacent to the north of the current tram corridor.
“Once the tram overpass construction is complete, it will enable a totally separate bicycle overpass to be built over this northern alignment,” he said.
Pedestrians will be able to safely cross South Road using the lifts and stairs provided on the tram overpass structure.
Pending Public Works approval next month, the State Government will engage a contractor to finalise the extra costs associated with the cycle overpass on top of the existing $28m South Road project.
Mrs Zollo said the pathway forms part of the State Government’s commitment to improving safety and convenience for cyclists.
“The City to Glenelg Tramway Cycling Route (Tramway Park) is a work in progress and I am delighted to be able to announce this latest addition to the project,” she said.
“As part of an extensive community consultation process with regard to the tram overpass we asked a range of interest groups if a cycling overpass was on their agenda.
The $8 million Tramway Park has the long-term vision of a formal ‘green’ park along the 10-kilometre tram corridor between South Terrace and Brighton Road.
The park will incorporate an off-road recreation path for walking and cycling along the length of the corridor, similar to the Coast Park that is being developed along Adelaide’s foreshore.
