Chief Street is being upgraded
Chief Street is being reimagined as a safer, greener and more connected place for the community.
The section between Port Road and Hawker Street will undergo a full reconstruction, creating a more welcoming street for people to walk, ride, connect and move through each day.
The upgrade will include:
- new footpaths
- new kerbing and ramps
- new road surface
- landscaping and trees
- bicycle lane
This project will help improve how Chief Street looks, feels and functions, making it safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for everyone who uses it.
See the Future of Chief Street
Watch the fly-through of the streetscape upgrade and see the future of Chief Street as a place to walk, ride and connect.
Stay updated on the construction of Chief Street
This section will provide ongoing updates to construction, traffic announcements and overall project updates.
You can also download the Publiq app if you wish to receive alerts directly to your phone.
Community feedback has helped shape the design of Chief Street.
We commenced discussions with community consultation in 2019/20 to understand what already works well, what doesn't work and how those who use Chief Street imagine it in the future.
In May 2021 we sought feedback on three streetscape options, developed as a result of community consultation. A total of 71% of respondents were supportive of a road design that provided cyclists with a facility separated from the roadway.
As a result, we adopted Option 1 with modifications;
- to provide a footpath adjacent a bicycle path (instead of a shared use path) to reduce pedestrian-cyclist conflict
- provision of parking on the eastern side.
The modified Option 1 (off-road bike path on eastern side) is shown in this illustration.
The Final Master Plan was endorsed by the Asset Management Committee on 21 March 2022 and Council on 28 March 2022. Detailed design has been underway during 2022/23 and will continue in the first half of 2023/24.
Previous Consultation
To read more about the Community Consultation to date, please visit our dedicated community engagement site Your Say Charles Sturt.
Timeline of Works
This project is being delivered in stages, with undergrounding of powerlines required before streetscape construction can begin.
| Timeline | Description |
|---|---|
Ongoing to 2024: Finalise Streetscape Design | Detailed engineering design for the Chief Street project continued through 2024, with Council working alongside SA Power Networks (SAPN) to prepare for the staged undergrounding of powerlines. |
2024: Undergrounding of Powerlines | Undergrounding of powerlines on Chief Street, between the railway underpass and south of Ethelbert Square, commenced in 2024 and was completed in 2025. |
| 2025/2026: Undergrounding of Powerlines (Stage 2) | The remaining undergrounding of powerlines between Ethelbert Square and Hawker Street has now been completed, allowing the streetscape upgrade to progress. |
| November 2026: Streetscape Construction | Construction of the Chief Street streetscape upgrade is scheduled to commence in November 2026. Further information about construction staging, traffic changes and access will be provided below via Publiq. |
FAQs
We know construction can raise questions. Find out what to expect during the Chief Street upgrade, including information about access, parking, traffic and the works ahead.
Construction will be delivered in stages to help manage access and minimise disruption. Information about road closures, detours and traffic changes will be provided ahead of each stage of works.
Access to properties and businesses will be maintained wherever possible. There may be temporary changes to access at different stages of construction, and affected properties will be notified in advance.
Some on-street parking may be temporarily unavailable while construction is taking place. Further information about parking impacts will be provided as works progress.
Landscaping and tree planting are an important part of the upgrade, helping create more shade and a greener streetscape.
Creating safer cycling connections has been part of the Chief Street project from the beginning. The new bicycle path will improve connections with surrounding cycling routes, including the Outer Harbor Greenway, while separating bike riders from vehicle traffic.
Yes. New footpaths, kerb ramps and improved crossing opportunities will make Chief Street safer and more accessible for people walking through the area.
The existing narrow footpaths and need for improved pedestrian safety and crossings were specifically identified when the project was developed.
Undergrounding the powerlines was required before the streetscape construction could begin. This work has now been completed, allowing construction of the Chief Street upgrade to commence.
Construction updates, including changes to traffic, parking and access, will be published on this page. You can also download the Publiq app to receive project alerts directly to your phone.