23 Oct, 2023

Pitt Street Upgrade Underway

Major works to upgrade Pitt Street get underway today, with the popular thoroughfare to get a $2.65 million makeover to complete the Market to Riverbank revitalisation project.

Following extensive consultation with the community and key stakeholders in the immediate area, the Pitt Street upgrade has been carefully designed to improve pedestrian safety along the narrow street, while maintaining two-way access for vehicles.

The project will enhance the streets character and provide flexible public spaces, with key features of the upgrade to include:

• Two-way access – retain its current two-way traffic flow between Grote and Franklin Street.

• Wider footpaths – will improve pedestrian safety, accessibility and experience.

• Outdoor dining – wider eastern footpath to provide space for outdoor dining

• Trees – will be planted along the eastern footpath to cool the street and improve amenity

• Raised roadway – to create a “mall” atmosphere which will increase space for outdoor dining and provide opportunity for street closure events

• Removable bollards – to facilitate street activation

• Parking – two access parking spaces near Uniting Communities on the eastern footpath.

Once complete, the road lanes will be narrower to enable both the two-way traffic flow and wider footpath, so the speed limit along Pitt Street will be reduced to 20 km/h.

During construction Pitt Street will remain open to pedestrians. At times the street will see restrictions placed on vehicle access but dedicated traffic management plans will ensure access to the car park is maintained.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said this was an important project to improve a key city connector.

“This upgrade strikes a balance between pedestrian, cycling and vehicle access, while improving safety for all users in the area,” said the Lord Mayor.

“We have been liaising with landowners and tenants along the street for more than a year to understand their specific needs, not only for the finished product and possible artwork but also during construction.

“Importantly, Pitt Street will remain open for business during construction so people will still be able to access all the businesses along the thoroughfare, as well as the nearby Adelaide Central Market.

“Preliminary works have already happened so crews will be able to get cracking to have this project complete by the middle of next year.”

Pitt Street is the final stretch to be upgraded as part of the $14.6 million Market to Riverbank project, which is a joint investment between the City of Adelaide and the State Government.

Jack Berketa