Little Sturt Street and Willcox Street forms part of a key north-south ‘active’ cross-city link between Grote Street (adjacent to St Mary’s College and a number of local businesses) and South Terrace at the Princess Elizabeth Playground. It also forms part of the City of Adelaide’s Bikeways Network.
Improving the Little Sturt Street and Willcox Street link to the Park Lands is an outcome of the partnership between Adelaide City Council, the Sturt Street Community School and the Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) through the Way2Go program.
The Way2Go program promotes and educates schools (staff, parents and children) on safer, greener and more active travel for primary school students and their communities. More information on the program can be found http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/way2go. Consultation on the project was undertaken in late 2013.
The community was asked to provide feedback on the proposed walking and cycling improvements to Little Sturt Street and Willcox Street including:
Strong community support for the project was received, with over 80% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing. Following the consultation, in May 2014 the street art and two-way cycling elements were installed along Willcox Street and Little Sturt Street. Further design work on the Gilbert Street wombat crossing however highlighted significant stormwater implications, making its installation cost prohibitive. It was therefore agreed between Council and DPTI to install a pedestrian zebra crossing, similar to that installed in Pirie Street (adjacent Exchange Place).
A design has been developed in collaboration with DPTI to ensure the safety of all users, and has incorporated the narrowing of carriageway using landscaped kerb extensions to reduce the crossing distance, calm traffic and improve the public amenity. As per the initially proposed wombat crossing, the zebra crossing will also result in the loss of four parking spaces along Gilbert Street – which is critical to ensure good sight lines between pedestrians crossing and motorists. All residential permit parking spaces will be retained or relocated slightly.
The local community located in the vicinity of the new proposed crossing will be consulted (inform) in mid-2015. The plans can be found here.
The project is expected to be constructed in late-2015. Owners/occupiers adjacent to the project will be notified of the works prior to construction commencing.
The widening of the Wilcox Street footpath is planned to be undertaken in the 2015/16 financial year, however this will depend on Council’s Annual Business Plan and Budget process. The project is being part funded by DPTI’s Way2Go program and Council.
