Multibillion-dollar South Road upgrade’s parklands promise
New plans to build extensive green space and cycling tracks alongside South Road have been released, with suburbs from Torrensville to Richmond and Clovelly Park in line for works. See the green space concept images.
Transport Minister Emily Bourke has called for community feedback on new concept images for 26 hectares of new green space and 22 kilometres of new and upgraded cycling and walking paths as part of the state and federal government’s $15.4bn South Road project.
Bourke said the plans showed an expected 10 new or upgraded open spaces along the Torrens to Darlington corridor that would have their own distinct materials and landscaping themes, meant to celebrate “the unique identity and heritage of each area”.
Green space projects included:
- Langman Reserve, West Hindmarsh: reimagined area with upgraded facilities
- Ware Street Reserve, Hindmarsh: 15,000 square metres of new community space next to the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri
- Ashley Street Reserve, Torrensville: play space complementing nearby upgrades at Kings Reserve and Thebarton Oval
- Westside Bikeway, Richmond: new open green space adjacent to the bikeway
- Ashford Reserve: rest and reflection area near a new shared use bridge and Tennyson Centre Day Hospital
- Grosvenor Street Linear Park, Glandore: green buffer between the new motorway and Grosvenor Street
- South Road Tram Overpass plazas: community spaces on both sides of the new motorway
- Pleasant Avenue Reserve, Glandore: new park with playground, grassed areas and shared use path opposite Black Forest Primary School
- Clovelly Park Reserve: large playground and community space near the southern tunnels
- Cosgrove Hall Linear Park, Clovelly Park: new green space giving a visual buffer between the motorway and York Avenue.
Green space designs needed final agreement from local councils impacted before they could happen, with Bourke also claiming the project would lift treen canopy by 20 per cent, add five new pedestrian and cycling bridges across the motorway, and provide more open spaces.
“The T2D Project is the largest infrastructure project in South Australia’s history and it’s creating more than just a non-stop South Road,” Bourke said.
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“Once complete, this project will deliver the largest creation of green open space by a road project in South Australia’s history.
“We will transform land along the corridor into parks, playgrounds and community spaces that will make it easier for people to walk and cycle, encouraging more people to be active in their community.”
When complete, the T2D Project will create a non-stop South Road allowing motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington, saving up to 40 minutes in peak travel times.
