Laneways and small streets from Riverbank to Central Market in Adelaide city vibrancy plan focus from 2016

Bank Street, Adelaide, is among small streets and laneways to have makeovers as part of the corridor from the Riverbank to the Central Market.

A $14.6 million upgrade of the small streets and laneways linking the Adelaide Central Market to Adelaide Railway Station and Riverbank started in 2016.

It will include new intersections, paving, lighting, trees, landscaping, street furniture, and public art throughout the corridor, which the state government estimates is used by 15,000 people a day.

The corridor includes Bank Street, Leigh Street, Topham Mall, Bentham Street, and Pitt Street. The project will be jointly financed with $7.3 million each from the government and city council.

The partnership follows on from a successful demonstration project between the council and government that saw Leigh Street closed to traffic in 2012. This led to a permanent closure in 2013.

The city’s laneways have also been activated through the state government’s policy encouraging small bars to be opened.

The nearby Peel and Gilbert streets have also been revived. Since Clever Little Tailor, the first small bar in Peel Street, opened in 2013, it has seen a major increase in visitors. This led to the street being closed to traffic.

An $8 million redevelopment of Gawler Place is part of better links for pedestrians in Adelaide city.

The Gawler Place upgrade will improve links from Grenfell Street to Rundle Mall and Rundle Mall to North Terrace.

Projects enhancing the environment in the city for pedestrians include: Adelaide Oval; Riverbank and Riverbank Bridge; Victoria Square / Tarntanyangga; Rundle Mall and Hindley Street West, along with the more pedestrian countdown timers.

Added to these are the Kintore Avenue Memorial Walk, along with better lighting along the main walkways to Adelaide Oval.