What is the vision for Bentham Street?

    The Market to Riverbank Link Project’s vision for Bentham Street is:

    A people-friendly small street, Bentham Street provides a seamless walking trail with hidden green urban space and fun activity.

    When will the project commence?

    Works are likely to begin in December this year.

    Have we consulted already with Traders and the broader community?

    Yes. Following our consultation with you in April 2016 (How do you like your Laneways), you told us what was important to you regarding the future of these Laneways.

    From there, we have developed concept designs taking into consideration the top 5 themes you shared with us:

    • Greenery, trees, grass
    • Limited car access, pedestrian priority
    • Lighting, nice lighting
    • Public art, street art
    • Atmosphere, vibrancy, character, buzzing, lively.

    What sort of greening will there be?

    Between 15-20 street trees will be planted along the street. In addition to low level landscaping that will be incorporated into the streetscape, tall columns of vertical greenery will provide interest and additional softening to the streetscape.

    How will I access Bentham Street after the upgrade?

    Pedestrians can access Bentham Street as they do now from Franklin Street and Waymouth Street. There will be increased footpath areas which will mean pedestrians will have improved access and use of the street from both ends.

    Access for people riding bikes will remain the same.

    Access to Bentham Street for all motor vehicles will be from Waymouth Street.

    Have other road options been considered for Bentham Street?

    Other options for Bentham Street have been explored including one-way northbound traffic with two-way traffic at the north end of the street. These options, however, did not: meet the traffic flow objective of the area, provide adequate safety for all street users, nor reduce vehicle traffic conflicts.

    A two-way road option was also considered, however this was deemed as unfeasible as it did not achieve any increase to footpath widths nor provide enough space for street amenities.

    Why is the direction of the one-way road to be southbound instead of northbound?

    By closing off Bentham Street to northbound traffic between Franklin Street and Peppers Waymouth Hotel porte-cochere exit (approximately 120 metres north of Franklin Street) and allowing for one-way southbound traffic only, this will minimise vehicle conflicts and provide more consistent and predictable movements for motorists, reducing the need for U-turn manoeuvres in the street.

    Will there be changes to on-street parking?

    The upgrade will include modifications to on-street parking from the existing 9 parking spaces to include 6 short term parking spaces and 2 loading zones (with a net loss of 1 parking space in the street).

    Why do we need more footpath space?

    The existing footpaths need to be widened to adequately accommodate the existing and projected pedestrian traffic.

    Why is the road width being reduced?

    The existing footpath widths are not adequate to cater for the current pedestrian flow, nor future increased pedestrian numbers. The existing daily number of people walking along the street is higher than the number of motor vehicles travelling along the street. To achieve a balance for pedestrians and all road users, the road width needs to be reduced to provide the opportunity to widen the footpath. This will also allow room for other street improvements such as tree planting, seating and potential outdoor dining.

    How long will construction take and will access still be provided?

    The construction period may take up to 12 months due to the investment in the street and every effort will be made to minimise impact to business and maintain street access for all business and the street during construction.

    When will the Bentham Street upgrade be completed?

    It is estimated to be in December 2018.

    How do I provide my feedback?

    Submission Form
    Complete the Submission Form for the Bentham Street upgrade - proposed road closure (one-way / two-way) by clicking here.


    Feedback Form
    Complete the Feedback Form for the Bentham Street upgrade concept design by clicking here.

    Written Submissions
    All written submissions must be received by 5pm, Saturday 19 August 2017 and should be addressed to:
     
    Community Consultation
    Market to Riverbank link project - Bentham Street Upgrade
    GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001

    Alternatively, comments can be emailed to yoursay@cityofadelaide.com.au.

    What happens to my feedback?

    Your feedback is important to us. The project team will collate all feedback, and:

    1. For the proposed road closure (one-way / two-way), formulate a report that will be presented to Council for consideration, in accordance with the requirements for a permanent road closure under the Road Traffic Act, 1961 (Section 32);
    2. For the Bentham Street concept design, incorporate feedback received into the next phase of design.

    How do I know my feedback has been received?

    All feedback and submissions will be acknowledged either by email or letter, confirming your comments and feedback have been received.