West Beach Rd $6m upgrade finally starts

After five long years of exhaustive and exhausting consultation, debate and planning, the $6 million upgrade of West Beach Rd is finally underway.

Artist's impression of West Beach Rd upgrade which will be completed by June 2019.

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After five long years of exhaustive and exhausting consultation, debate and planning, the $6 million upgrade of West Beach Rd is finally underway.

The makeover, set for completion in June next year, is expected to improve road safety, boost tourism and smarten up the gateway to both West Torrens and Charles Sturt council areas.

The 1.2 kilometre stretch between Military and Tapleys Hill roads is also a key access route for Adelaide Airport, Harbour Town shopping hub, West Beach Parks precinct (previously Adelaide Shores) and the western coastal area and its suburbs.

Since 2013 the project has undergone extensive public consultation involving the two councils, West Beach Trust, Adelaide Airport and the West Beach Community Reference Group.

“Tourism promotion and the beautifying an area that is a gateway to the coast is part of the goal but, with a project like this, producing a better road to improve safety is obviously our paramount concern,” says project engineer Adam Mallia.

“The contractor has put in place traffic management plans to minimise the impact of the job on car, bike and pedestrian traffic.

“We are also working with West Beach Parks so we have a very good understanding of what sports and other events have been scheduled during the project to maintain access — so expect only minor inconvenience,” he says.

The Federal Government is chipping in $1.93 million under the Roads to Recovery and Special Local Roads programs.

The balance of the $6m cost is being split on a pro rata basis between West Torrens (which has about 900m of the road in its council area) and Charles Sturt (about 300 metres).