The State Government lists the Mike Turtur Bikeway upgrade as the first success of a decade of upcoming cycling infrastructure projects, but active transport advocates are disappointed sections of the arterial bikeway are still closed due to delays.

The State Government’s draft 2022-2032 Cycling Strategy for South Australia was released last week, outlining how the government plans to encourage more South Australians to cycle.

While the document is focussed on the decade ahead, it also lists what the government considers to be recent cycling successes.

Among these successes is the upgrade of the Mike Turtur Bikeway: a shared cycling and pedestrian path that runs into the city parallel to the Glenelg tramway.

When fully operational, the off-road bikeway is used by an average of 1000 pedestrians and cyclists a day, according to the City of Unley.

Despite the State Government’s report saying the project “returned more than 2,000m² of former tram corridor to the community and delivered an upgraded shared use path”, a section of the bikeway has been closed due to the upgrades for more than a year.

Ashley Mackey, the head of local grassroots cycling group Bike Adelaide, tells CityMag it’s “disappointing” the Mike Turtur Bikeway upgrade has taken longer than expected to complete, though he’s not entirely surprised.

“As cyclists as well as advocates, we’ve become very good at waiting,” he says. “We look forward to it being completed soon.”

The upgrades began in early 2021, undertaken jointly by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and the City of Unley.

DIT was responsible for the construction of the new shared path and ramps, while the Unley council provided “new trees and understorey planting”, according to the council’s website. The website also says the work was slated for completion in mid-2021.

A spokesperson for the City of Unley tells CityMag the council has highlighted “a number of issues” for DIT to address before the council can continue with its landscaping work.

“These issues have caused delays,” the spokesperson says.

“It is expected that when DIT resolves those construction issues, Council can complete its planting and lighting upgrade and the bikeway will be reopened for public access.”

They did not say when they expect the bikeway to reopen.

David Elliott, chair of online cycling community group Unley Bicycle Users, is similarly frustrated with the delays.

He says the hold-up shows how little the government cares about active transport.

“It’s one of the most-used cycling corridors and the delays have seriously diminished the usefulness of the entire corridor,” he says.

On the day we visit the Mike Turtur Bikeway, the fence is wide open

Construction rubble

The interim state manager of national cycling organisation AusCycling, Jake Thomas, says dedicated infrastructure projects like the Mike Turtur Bikeway are “vital” to creating safe, off-road networks for commuters.

“We eagerly await the day the current works are completed and the bikeway can be safely reopened in full for public use,” he says.

When CityMag visited the bikeway earlier this week, fencing along the construction area designed to stop pedestrians and cyclists using the path had been pried open. Exposed purple piping is left beside the cycleway and missing pavers are supplemented with gravel.

A spokesperson for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport said told CityMag in a statement the department is continuing to “work collaboratively” with the City of Unley to “address identified issues”, complete final works, and tend to “necessary rectification.”