A drone’s eye view of the new O-Bahn route being tunnelled through Adelaide’s parklands
THIS is a view of the new O-Bahn route being tunnelled through Adelaide’s parklands that’s never been seen before - and it’s pretty special. SEE THE VIDEO
- This deep scar will shave just 3 ½ minutes off your O-Bahn ride
- More parklands needed for O-Bahn construction access
IT’S a drone’s eye view of the new O-Bahn bus tunnel cutting a swath through the city’s parklands.
The Sunday Mail contracted a licensed drone operator to capture images of the $160 million construction project from the air.
The aerial photographs reveal the magnitude of the project. Tunnel works began in April, and at the end of the month construction workers will begin placing a “lid” over the tunnel, made of large concrete slabs.
It will later be covered by grass and other plants, returning much of the area to parklands.
Workers will also have to fit out the inside of the tunnel by installing lighting and electrical connections.
The dirt dug out to clear the tunnel will later be used to backfill gaps and cover the concrete lid before landscaping can take place.
The whole project is expected to be complete by the end of next year.
The State Government says the 650m bus tunnel, from Hackney Rd to East Tce, will reduce daily bus commute times by an average seven minutes.
The construction works create a tunnel through Rymill Park to connect the bus route to Grenfell St.
The dedicated bus tunnel begins adjacent the National Wine Centre and emerges at East Tce, near Grenfell St.
The Transport and Infrastructure Department is working with the Adelaide City Council on plans for steel art structures and landscaping at the entry points to the tunnel.
A department spokesman said it was preparing to release more detailed concept images in about a month, after further approvals from the Development Assessment Commission. Residents and community and business leaders had campaigned strongly against the project, arguing it would “butcher” the parklands.
The Rymill Park Alliance — a collection of 12 community groups — was formed to lobby the Government to scrap or amend the project.
More than 1000 protested in Rymill Park in June last year. The backlash prompted the Government to revise its plans.
More than 31,000 people use the O-Bahn on weekdays and commuters make more than eight million journeys on the route each year.
Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan has previously said that realigning Rundle Rd to connect with Grenfell St would give the Government the “flexibility to talk in the future” about extending a tramline to the eastern suburbs along the old tram corridor through Rymill Park.