A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY - KING WILLIAM ROAD UPGRADE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The City of Unley is thrilled to announce that the King William Road Upgrade will be substantially completed on 2 December 2019, with the availability of on-street parking and outdoor dining, in time for the busy Christmas trading period.
On behalf of Council, Mayor Michael Hewitson invites everyone to come and experience a transformed King William Road. “The colourful gardens and advanced trees brighten the area as we enter the festive season. We are delighted to welcome a new era for a premier Adelaide retail and dining destination” said Mayor Hewitson.
“Congratulations to all involved in the project who have worked tirelessly to consistently achieve key milestones delivering the Upgrade ahead of schedule and in time for the busy Christmas and New Year holiday period.”
“I am delighted the Upgrade has been delivered ahead of schedule and would like to sincerely thank our local community, particularly our traders and residents, for their patience and cooperation – we realise it has not been easy,” he said.
“This is a new era that will ensure the longevity of King William Road and see it reclaim its status as Adelaide’s most loved main street.”
The Upgrade has delivered the community’s Design King William vision. This includes the planting of more than 80 mature trees to create a cooler environment and the introduction of over 70 on street spaces designed with flexibility for on street parking, outdoor dining and other activations which enables King William Road to adapt into the future. The design features key safety improvements including two more pedestrian crossings whilst respecting the precinct’s distinctive village character and heritage.
The more than 70 flexible spaces along King William Road will provide three-hour parking for the precinct with a number of half-hour parking spaces available at the southern end, near the Park/Mitchell Street intersection. In addition to the on-street parking along King William Road itself, a further 350 off-street parking spaces are available within public and privately owned carparks located behind businesses.
Mayor Hewitson said the Upgrade methodology put traders front and centre in the way the project has been delivered. As a result, the precinct has welcomed a range of new businesses which opened during the Upgrade works, including Joybird, Ecru, Agapi Greek Cuisine, Little Shop of Flowers, He Said She Said, Mr Potato, Plant B Life and Steven ter Horst, with more new businesses set to open soon.
BMD Construction Manager Tim Bishop said their partnership with the City of Unley is the result of strong collaboration and the development and delivery of an accelerated program, which has enabled the Upgrade to be completed in time for the festive season.
“As a local contractor, having operated in South Australia for more than 10 years and located within the City of Unley ourselves, it was important that the construction was delivered with minimal impact on the surrounding community and stakeholders, and we are pleased to have been able to substantially complete the Upgrade ahead of schedule,” he said.
Minor works to be carried out early in 2020 include the installation of furniture (bins, bicycle racks, smart benches, planter boxes and Jam Factory seats), smart parking signage as well as rectification of minor defects.
“We invite all to visit King William Road. It is a revitalised destination and a great place to be for your Christmas shopping or for dining out with your family and friends,” Mayor Hewitson said.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Karen Cini, Communications Officer, City of Unley 0409 176 135
Jeff Smith, JP Media, 0402 677 389
Download the full media release here.
