Bentham St footpath ripped up, but project still expected to be finished next month

Another section of a city footpath will be ripped up and replaced after failing to meet the standards of Adelaide City Council

Pathway works along Bentham St. Picture: Supplied

Another section of footpath along Bentham St is being ripped up and replaced as part of its $5.5m upgrade, after failing to meet Adelaide City Council standards.

The council has confirmed a “small stretch” of concrete near the Franklin St entrance is being replaced – six weeks after a different section was relaid for being the wrong colour.

Construction workers reconcreting along Bentham St. Picture: Supplied

The council’s infrastructure associate director, Mark Goudge, said as part of its quality control process they regularly inspected works.

“We have identified a small stretch of footpath which we deemed to not meet our standard and have asked that this be rectified,” Mr Goudge said.

“The contractor is in the process of rectifying the issue.

“Council implements inspection and test plans on all its projects to ensure that the specified quality outcomes are achieved and we will continue to do so during the life of this project.”

The Advertiser revealed in September part of the footpath installed near the Waymouth St end had to be ripped up and replaced because the concrete was the wrong colour.

At the time, the council said the concrete supplier had provided the wrong mix of aggregate and it would be replaced at the cost of the supplier.

Works in September to replace the incorrect pavement. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Mr Goudge said the latest works would have no impact “on the budget or timeline of the development” which would be completed in December.

The Bentham St upgrade started in February and it was only meant to be closed to traffic for six months – now more than nine months later vehicle access to some, not all, businesses has been recently restored.

The upgrade works included road resurfacing, new lighting, an avenue of trees, art installations and footpath widening.

Bentham St resident Robert Cameron, who works from home, told The Advertiser he was “getting tired of the noise” and looked forward to the project’s completion.

“I’m looking forward to when the noise is gone, the place is tidied up and we get back to a reasonable amount of traffic and people around,” Mr Cameron said.

“I understand there were a lot of problems undergrounds which delayed the works.

“The noise is starting to affect me, I’ll definitely be happy when it’s gone.”

Mr Cameron raised concerns about vehicle access, particularly by trucks in and out of the Australia Post building, given Bentham St will become a single lane roadway.

The Bentham St upgrade is one of the final stages of the $14.6m Market to Riverbank Link, which has seen Bank St, Leigh St and Topham Mall upgraded.

The final road to be revamped will be Pitt St.

Artist's impressions of what the upgraded Bentham St in the Adelaide CBD will look like. Picture: Adelaide City Council