Only one way for Bridge Street North

BRENDAN SIMPKINS
TRAFFIC on Bridge Street
North will revert to one-way
traffic following the installation
of the new King Street
Bridge, despite a push from
Gawler Council members to
keep it two-way.
As part of the Gawler rail line
electrification, the bridge will
be removed in favour of a new,
pedestrian-only bridge.
This is due to the need of the
trains to run on overhead wires.
Work on the project began
yesterday, with traffic onto
Bridge and King streets bein
limited to “residents, construction
access an required services”.
Under the plan, traffic changes
would include one-way
movements between King
Street Bridge and the entrance
to Gawler Central Station carpark.
King Street North will revert
to two-way traffic, with
the existing planter beds to be
removed. However, at a meeting
in November, councillors
expressed their desire to see
Bridge Street North remain
open to two-way traffic.
Cr Ian Tooley moved a motion
requesting the Department
of Infrastructure and Transport
(DIT) consider keeping the current
two-way traffic movement
as part of the electrification
project.
It was carried unanimously.
A response from DIT was
presented to councillors at last
month’s council meeting, where
an update on the project’s status
was given.
DIT’s response noted the
new pedestrian bridge had been
designed with future extensions
of the railway platform in mind,
which can accommodate a sixcar
train service.
Future extensions would result
in encroachment to Bridge
Street North.
“This traffic impact around
Bridge Street North has been
reviewed to determine the most
appropriate outcome for local
area traffic management,” the
response read.
“The outcomes from this
study has suggested the section
of Bridge Street North between
the King Street Pedestrian
Bridge and the station carpark
become one way to safely allow
for traffic to flow, whilst retaining
the eastern end as two-way
connecting to Murray Street.”
Councillors were also told
in November another factor in
shortening the road was moving
pedestrians away from live
wires.
Cr David Hughes, who was
seconder for Cr Tooley’s motion
in November, said it had
been a difficult process.
Cr Hughes held concerns
over what impact one-way traffic
on the section of road could
have on emergency response
times.
“Even access for emergency
services that use that access
currently, it is going to change
response times and make things
difficult for a lot of the residents
in Gawler that use that area and
use the bridge on a daily basis,”
he said.
“Especially the police who
constantly use that access too.”