Unley bike path ‘disaster’ results in $25k repair bill

Cracked paths, flooding, mounds of dirt and dangerous pipes have turned a popular bike thoroughfare into a ‘defective’ mess.

Months after it was due to open, and years after path users called for its repair because it was “dangerous”, a $2 million bike path has hit yet another pothole.

The Mike Turtur Bikeway upgrade continues to cause outrage, with one civic leader taking a state government department to task.

Cracking paths, puddles, damage to a significant tree, mounds of leftover soil and incorrectly placed irrigation and electrical piping can be seen in photographs of the Wayville section upgrade.

The saga has been happening for four months.

In correspondence viewed by The Messenger, City of Unley Mayor Michael Hewitson told Infrastructure and Transport Minister Corey Wingard about the “numerous defects” left by department contractors.

Mr Hewitson said the tribulations faced in trying to finalise the path upgrade were a “disaster”, with contractors leaving a $25,000 repair bill in their wake.

Flooded paths and misplaced pipes have been indicated as being defects by the City of Unley. Pictures: Supplied

Mr Hewitson’s correspondence also indicated the upgraded Wayville tram stop ramp, likened by residents to a “detention centre”, needed modification work and there was a further $6840 bill to remove weeds.

Railings on the tram stop had since been lowered.

Mr Hewitson said the department expected council to pay for the weeding.

Some path users are entering the construction area despite it not yet being finalised.

A council spokesman said one injury had been reported on the bikeway.

For other users of the bikeway the delays were indicative of a “fundamental disinterest” in bicycle infrastructure from the department, Unley Bicycle Users Group chairman David Miller said.

“There’s a lot of big talk from the department about supporting cycling and talking a big game, but what this project demonstrates is there’s no teeth to it,” he said,

Mr Miller said the absence of the path meant users had to travel along roads and it was likely cyclists had ceased using their bikes.

“It’s quite insulting, really,” he said.

“People rely on cycling and love cycling, and by providing a level of infrastructure that’s so poor is evidence of a prevailing apathy toward walking and cycling infrastructure.”

Mr Hewitson said the council would cover the cost of the works to get the track open as soon as possible but it would seek reimbursement.

The upgrade initially stalled while the council and department decided whose responsibility it was before the project became a joint venture.

The department was responsible for pavement construction, signage and line-marking while the council was in charge of landscaping and lighting upgrades.

A department spokesman said the rectification work on the issues identified would be “coordinated following completion of council’s landscaping”.

The spokesperson said non-compliant and substandard work would be rectified by the contractor “at their own cost”.

The City of Unley spokesman said landscaping should be completed by the end of March. It was unclear when the path would be reopened to the public.