One-way push revived for notorious Adelaide party strip, Hindley St

A PUSH to make notorious Adelaide nightspot Hindley St one-way has been revived in the wake of serious injuries to two pedestrians on Friday night.

• Friday night: Car hits two female pedestrians on Hindley St

A PUSH to make notorious Adelaide nightspot Hindley St one-way has been revived in the wake of serious injuries to a pedestrian on Friday night.

Reveller Emma Dowling was left bleeding from her face after the incident but took to social media from her hospital bed to thank supporters for their kind words.

Ms Dowling and another young woman were hit by a car at 10.15pm while attempting to cross the party strip.

Ms Dowling was flung several metres after hitting and cracking the windscreen.

The other woman was not injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Onlookers at the scene of the incident on Hindley St on Friday night. Picture: Mitch Mott

In the wake of the collision, Lord Mayor Martin Haese told the Sunday Mail his council would soon seek talks about widening Hindley St footpaths in a bid to reduce peak-time pedestrian congestion and improve safety.

Mr Haese and the previous Labor government were considering plans last September to restrict Hindley St to allow only eastbound traffic between Morphett St and King William St, aiming to reduce anti-social behaviour, boost outdoor dining and improve pedestrian and cyclists’ access.

Mr Haese on Saturday said he hoped to initiate talks with the new Liberal State Government about improving safety, while Transport and Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll also signalled plans to co-operate to improve pedestrian safety and traffic congestion.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said his council would soon seek talks about widening Hindley St.

The Lord Mayor said options included making Hindley St one-way and retaining the two-way street but widening footpaths, while ensuring emergency vehicle access.

“I think the greatest opportunity here is that by widening those footpaths we will, in fact, make Hindley St safer,” he said.

It is understood that one-way street options have already been prepared by the city council but not approved, ranging in cost from $4 million to $14 million.

The latter involves widening footpaths, installing new paving and street furniture, while ensuring drop-off access for guests at two hotels.

Hindley St publican John Meek said closing the road, at times, would improve safety and beautify the area.

“On Saturday night and certain nights of the year it would be great to close the road off,” Mr Meek said.

Mr Knoll, the Transport, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Minister, said: “We currently have no plans to shut Hindley St off to cars but I look forward to working with key stakeholders, including those in the West End, about ways in which we can revitalise the CBD and improve pedestrian safety and traffic congestion.”

TELL US BELOW: What do you see are the problems on Hindley St