New guard rails installed at the Loop Path’s Nelson Street crossing!

1.  New Guard Rails:  Just in time for the holiday season, DPTI have installed protective (and reflective) hi-vis guard rails at the waiting points on the Harbour Loop Pathway’s Nelson Street crossing.

Typical scenario on a Wednesday afternoon back in August this year

On busy weekends this crossing has often been characterised by chaotic behaviours from both pedestrians and vehicle users as they struggled with an inadequate mid-road refuge and with limited warning of the crossing’s presence.

Guard rails now clearly signal the presence of the crossing to all.

The new guard rails are painted reflective red & white and should help define (for both drivers and pathway users) the crossing’s ‘waiting’ areas and the need for care and a more responsible approach. Let’s hope that they improve things over the coming holiday season!

Construction underway on a new pedestrian and mobility vehicle ramp, on the Western side of the Lipson Street crossing.

2. Port Railyards Update:  The work on the Lipson and Edith Street road crossings proceeds apace! Opposite the Lipson Street Greenway exit there is now a 2nd ramp under construction. This will apparently assist pedestrians and those using mobility devices or pushers and shopping trolleys to cross the road with greater safety.

It’s not quite clear what such pathway users are then expected to do as the western footpaths are narrow and currently appear ill-suited to wheeled users. However, in the absence of public consultation or release of a plan, the BUG imagines that this new ramp is part of a larger design strategy to fully incorporate Lipson Street into the Outer Harbour Greenway and to allow safe connection through to both the Harbour Loop pathway and the Port CBD! We await further developments with interest…

Construction of a new and much wider ramp is underway at Edith Street, Rosewater.

Also underway is construction of a new ramp at the other end of the Railyards Bikeway at Edith Street, Rosewater. This should make entry to the Greenway’s street route at Rosewater much safer for all users.

The BUG also notes that installation of new lighting along the Railyards Bikeway has also started, with locations established, mounting holes excavated and adjacent cable inspection pits installed. High quality lighting will make an enormous difference to this often dark and potentially hazardous section of the Greenway. Female bicycle users have often commented that the lack of lighting has been a major disincentive to pathway use in the past! DPTI are to be congratulated on this initiative! 

He’s Everywhere! Dave Case at large.

The BUGBlog thanks it’s roving (and early rising) photographer Dave Case for timely provision of these excellent photographs!

3.  Final Meeting 2014!  The PortBUG will hold it’s final 2014 get-together this Thursday 4th, at 7pm, upstairs at the Argo Hellenic Cafe, Commercial Road, Port Adelaide. All are welcome! If you are interested in the BUG, what it has accomplished in 2014 and what we might tackle over 2015, please join us for a meal, a drink &/or and some great discussion!