[COM] Victoria Square Upgrade - $24m

[Port Adelaide Fan]

Central road through Victoria Square to be closed for works from September 15

TRAFFIC snarls in the CBD will worsen next month when the central road through Victoria Square is closed for works on its $28 million upgrade.

The roadway, connecting Wakefield and Grote streets, will be closed from September 15 to October 11, while underground services are installed below a high voltage power line that crosses the square.

Workers will also rip up the remaining bitumen in the centre of the square and start laying a thick foundation of concrete and new granite pavers.

The City Council's city culture and community services general manager, Sandy Verschoor, urged motorists travelling east or west to plan alternative routes.

"We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption during this time, with the last two weeks of the temporary closure falling during school holidays, when traditionally there is less traffic around, to limit the impacts on peak road users," she said.

"During this time of inconvenience, I'd encourage people to think about the new square and the long-term benefits it will bring to our city."

Trams will not be affected but buses that use the central road will instead make U-turns at the intersection of Gouger and King William streets so they can turn left and head west onto Grote St.

When the road reopens it will still be restricted to three lanes.

The upgrade will be finished in December except for the reinstallation of the Three Rivers fountain at the southern end of the square in February, following the Tour Down Under.

Details of the closure are online at smartmoveadelaide.com.au

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger ... 6704993326

[cruel_world00]

Central road through Victoria Square to be closed for works from September 15

TRAFFIC snarls in the CBD will worsen next month when the central road through Victoria Square is closed for works on its $28 million upgrade.

The roadway, connecting Wakefield and Grote streets, will be closed from September 15 to October 11, while underground services are installed below a high voltage power line that crosses the square.

Workers will also rip up the remaining bitumen in the centre of the square and start laying a thick foundation of concrete and new granite pavers.

The City Council's city culture and community services general manager, Sandy Verschoor, urged motorists travelling east or west to plan alternative routes.

"We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption during this time, with the last two weeks of the temporary closure falling during school holidays, when traditionally there is less traffic around, to limit the impacts on peak road users," she said.

"During this time of inconvenience, I'd encourage people to think about the new square and the long-term benefits it will bring to our city."

Trams will not be affected but buses that use the central road will instead make U-turns at the intersection of Gouger and King William streets so they can turn left and head west onto Grote St.

When the road reopens it will still be restricted to three lanes.

The upgrade will be finished in December except for the reinstallation of the Three Rivers fountain at the southern end of the square in February, following the Tour Down Under.

Details of the closure are online at smartmoveadelaide.com.au

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger ... 6704993326

Typical angle from the Sadvertiser. Instead of taking it from the position that closing the middle of Vic Square during the construction period is a good opportunity to see how the city copes without that access they say "traffic snarls will worsen."

[skyliner]

it's all just down to money and sales pandering to the 'bad' news concept. They are not particularly into building up Adelaide, that's for sure - a disappointment.

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Kasey771]

been a while since we've had a picture update, this *has* to be ready for the TDU in January...can the builders meet that target? It would also be nice to have it ready for the influx of English tourists who will come for the Ashes in December

The July pictures looked pretty dire and we've just had the wettest July ever, how many days were lost to weather?

[Matt]

Anyone catch 9 News tonight?

[mgb]

from http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/coun ... trictions/:

Commuters are being advised of ongoing temporary traffic restrictions around Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, with the central roadway linking Grote and Wakefield Streets, to remain closed until early November.
Victoria Square redevelopment project manager, Tom Playford, said the traffic restrictions are necessary as a result of the nature of the paving works, recent wet weather, and the discovery of underground piping with asbestos.
“Safety is our first and foremost priority, and while professionals have been engaged to appropriately remove and eradicate the asbestos, we have to allow adequate time to ensure this and associated works are carried out properly,” he said.
“There is no harm or risk to the community and a fully certified and licensed asbestos removal company have removed the asbestos, but unfortunately to do this properly additional time has been required.
“The curing time of the grout between the pavers on the central roadway is critical to the structural integrity of the road surface (to ensure the road is strong enough to safely carry the weight of cars and buses). Together with the recent wet weather conditions, the curing time of the pavers has been slowed.
“While we know it’s disrupting for road users, it hasn’t impacted our completion date with our contractors working to make sure the project is ready for the Tour Down Under in 2014.
“We’re doing everything we can to minimise delays and to notify road users and local businesses. Alternative routes are available, while tram and bus timetables will continue as scheduled.”
The central roadway is being transformed into a temporary plaza for events. Space will be made for a dedicated bus lane and there will be a pedestrian path and bicycle lanes in the northern and southern side of the Square. The flag poles will remain in the centre of the Square.
Stage One of the revamp will also see the creation of a lawned community events space and promenade with seating and shade, as well as ‘plug and play’ infrastructure for mobile and pop-up activities.
Safer lighting, new public toilets, drinking fountains, bike racks, garden beds and a water play fountain will also be installed, thanks to the redevelopment.

[Matt]

Ignore the whinge at the start - second part is a tour of the construction with some insight into how it's all going to look.
The new water feature sounds good.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kHneDxrbpf ... 3Dyoutu.be

[Patrick_27]

Ignore the whinge at the start - second part is a tour of the construction with some insight into how it's all going to look.
The new water feature sounds good.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kHneDxrbpf ... 3Dyoutu.be

I hope the state government make some form of financial commitment in the lead up to the election for finishing the whole proposal for the square. Even if it's just touching up the Southern end and re-aligning the road to become a proper square, that would be better than nothing.

[cruel_world00]

Ignore the whinge at the start - second part is a tour of the construction with some insight into how it's all going to look.
The new water feature sounds good.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kHneDxrbpf ... 3Dyoutu.be

"Tom Richardson reporting for Whine News Adelaide."

[Kasey771]

So in 5-10 years time when the State govt decodes to connect the Gawler line to the Noarlunga line via an underground train tunnel with a station under Vic Square, it will all have to be ripped up again right? oh well, it might well be due an 'upgrade' by then;)

[[Shuz]]

It's really cool watching this one progress each day as I go by on the tram.

If you watch the news clip towards the end - I note that they layout has changed a little bit? The arbours seem to have been cut back to 1/4 of their original size and the former octangonal-shaped 3 Rivers Fountain is more of a trapezoid now in its new location.

Also - at the start of the clip, great shot of the Adelaide CBD from the SA Water Building. They should do more coverage from that angle.

[spiller]

im confused, the project manager said it was a two stage project at the end there, yet they are currently ripping up the whole square? what is stage 2 then?

[Nathan]

im confused, the project manager said it was a two stage project at the end there, yet they are currently ripping up the whole square? what is stage 2 then?

Stage 2 would probably be the landscaped gardens on the south half, with Stage 3 being the road re-alignments, perimeter gardens and the full arbours.

Stage 1:

Screen Shot 2013-10-04 at 2.07.33 PM.png (316.17 KiB) Viewed 3224 times

Full Masterplan:

Screen Shot 2013-10-04 at 2.07.44 PM.png (376.13 KiB) Viewed 3224 times

[ml69]

Surely that full master plan must be a bit out of date by now if Stage 1 gets built as depicted?

Can't imagine they are going to rip up the trees they planted in Stage 1 which borders the new event lawn? Or the trapezoidal fountain on the southern edge of the square is going to be "reshaped" to resemble the fountain in the full master plan? Or tear down the arbours from Stage 1? Surely not?

[Nathan]

Surely that full master plan must be a bit out of date by now if Stage 1 gets built as depicted?

Can't imagine they are going to rip up the trees they planted in Stage 1 which borders the new event lawn? Or the trapezoidal fountain on the southern edge of the square is going to be "reshaped" to resemble the fountain in the full master plan? Or tear down the arbours from Stage 1? Surely not?

Not sure about the fountain, the stage one design came after the master plan, so it's probably just updated. The arbours would go, yes. I believe the stage one arbours are designed so that they can easily be moved and re-used elsewhere once the full size arbours are in place.