King William Rd upgrade up and running at Hyde Park

Work on the delayed $15.5 million King William Rd redevelopment has begun, causing traffic delays on the premier shopping precinct.

Work on the delayed $15.5 million King William Rd redevelopment has finally begun with groundwork to relocate a major water main.

Traffic restrictions are in place but SA Water has assured its work — part of the shopping precinct’s first upgrade in 33 years — will not cause major disruption to traders, customers and motorists.

“For the safety of the local community and our workers, traffic management will be in place (this week) between 9am and 3pm,” a SA Water spokeswoman said.

“This is the only part of our works which is scheduled during the day and has been timed to minimise any impacts to residents and businesses.”

A section of the water main between Park and Boffa streets is being moved to allow Unley Council, which is funding the project, to install new curbing.

Work to move the main water pipe will start on Sunday, May 19 and is expected to take a month.

SA Water senior manager of customer and community engagement Matthew Bonnett said work would typically take place between 8pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday.

“We have timed construction hours to avoid peak trade periods for local cafes and restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights,” Mr Bonnett said.

“We will also provide advance notice to businesses and residents who will experience temporary interruptions to their mains-supplied water for part of our works.”

During working hours, traffic will be reduced to one lane between Park and Boffa streets with temporary parking restrictions in place in certain sections.

Buses will run as normal.

Project manager, and former top government bureaucrat as chief executive of the Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Department for three years, Rod Hook has confirmed two South Australian firms will supply pavers for the upgrade.

“The pavers will be a combination of Boral and Best Bricks and Pavers — both local,” he said.

“Boral will supply for the road and Best for the footpaths.”

Brisbane-based BMD Construction, with a South Australian head office on Greenhill Road at Wayville, will be paid around $11m to complete the King William Rd redevelopment.

“They (BMD) work around Australia as most of these businesses do, so they are as local as you can get for something like this,” Mr Hook said.

“They completed the Henley Square project and are currently doing the Gawler Place upgrade.”