Wheel stops on new Semaphore Rd car parks installed in wrong spot

NEW wheel stops on carparks on a popular Adelaide road left traders scratching their heads — and bigger cars and trucks sticking out into traffic — after they were installed in the wrong spot.

Oops! What a stuff-up! Picture: Ashleigh Pisani

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NEW wheel stops on Semaphore Rd carparking spaces have left traders scratching their heads — and bigger cars and trucks hanging out into traffic — after they were installed in the wrong spot.

The council spent $50,441 for the 59 wheel stops, which provide a stopping point for motorists as they pull into a carpark, to be fitted last week in angled parks adjacent to outdoor dining.

However, 21 of them were installed in the incorrect position – more than a metre away from the kerb in some instances – leaving the rear of cars disrupting Semaphore Rd traffic.

The council has acknowledged the bungle - which it says was caused by contractor error - and have fixed the carpark fail.

A spokesman refused to name the contractor.

Wheel stops on Semaphore Rd car parks were installed too far away from the curb. Picture: Ashleigh Pisani

“The plan was to also allow enough room for people to walk in front of a parked vehicle,” the spokesman said.

“Unfortunately there was an error with their installation meaning they have been placed a bit too far back.”

The council said it would pay the additional $2000 it cost to rectify the mistake, but did not say if it would look to be reimbursed by the contractor.

Semaphore Bakehouse owner Terry Purdie said the wheel stops were a good idea but that he didn’t understand why they were installed so far from the gutter.

Semaphore Bakehouse owner Terry Purdie. Picture: Ashleigh Pisani

“I actually spoke to the guys who were installing them because I come in at 4am and I said ‘they’re a bit far away aren’t they?’ and they said ‘we’re just going off the plans’,” Mr Purdie said.

“They’re a good idea and (there’s) a safety reason but most of the trucks are just driving over the top of them so their end is not hanging out onto the road.”

Froot cafe owner Phillip Bayly echoed Mr Purdie’s view.

“It’s a very surprising location to put them,” Mr Bayly said.

“It’s a great idea to put them in, it just needs to (be) put in a bit closer to the gutter.”

Mr Bayly said the barriers were stopping the street sweeper from cleaning the gutters each day as well.

“He (the driver) can’t come in between the barriers and the gutter so that’s an issue.”