Petition for safety upgrades to West Tce and Sturt St intersection results in bold vision

A green pedestrian boulevard along a heavily used road in the CBD would see a lane removed and is being investigated by Adelaide City Council, following concerns by a local school.

Adelaide City Council is investigating upgrade options for the West Tce and Sturt St intersection. Picture: Morgan Sette

A green pedestrian boulevard along West Terrace to increase safety – but which would remove a lane of northbound traffic – is being investigated by Adelaide City Council.

The council earlier this year agreed to explore upgrade options for the West Tce and Sturt St intersection, after a 233-signatory petition from a nearby school raised serious safety concerns.

A report, tabled at Tuesday night’s Infrastructure and Public Works Committee meeting, found to increase safety the footpath would need to be widened on the western side of West Tce.

Adelaide City Counil have discussed a green pedestrian boulevard along West Terrace to increase safety.

The only way to do that would be the removal of one northbound traffic lane, as the other side of the footpath was constrained by the wall of the West Terrace Cemetery.

Preliminary works by the council found it would only cause a ‘minor increase in delays’ to motorists of 15 seconds during peak periods, but extensive traffic modelling was required.

There are approximately 55,000 daily traffic movements on West Tce, near the Sturt St vicinity, and 29 bus routes in operation.

Since 2018, there have been three casualty crashes at the intersection, one causing serious injury, and five reported non-casualty crashes.

City Services director Tom McCready told councillors the investigation was in its infancy and significant engagement, including with the Transport Department, would be required.

“However, to make significant changes to accommodate the needs of what the community were asking for with the widening of the footpath, naturally the only way we could do that is to go into the road reserve,” Mr McCready said.

“There is a conversation to be had, however what we wish to do is ... to allow staff to go away and work on it. There would be major dialogue before the council considers anything.”

In May, the Sturt Street Primary School tabled the petition requesting an upgrade, widening of the shared use path and reducing the road’s 60km/hr speed limit.

Council papers showed discussions with the school’s principal detailed issues such as a “hostile walking and riding environment” along West Tce, poor driver compliance and an inadequacy of footpath width to accommodate groups of children.

Councillors at Tuesday’s meeting unanimously agreed to consider the initiative during the 2025/26 budget process to enable further design, detailed traffic modelling, costs and consultation with stakeholders.

Originally published as Petition for safety upgrades to West Tce and Sturt St intersection results in bold vision