The first construction contract for Adelaide's $220m Festival Plaza redevelopment has been awarded to construction and development company Lendlease.
The contract is worth an approximate $21m, involves lowering Festival Drive, which will separate vehicle and pedestrian traffic and enable direct, on-foot access between the Riverbank Footbridge and Adelaide Railway Station.
The redevelopment includes upgrading public spaces around the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Railway Station, SKYCITY Casino, Parliament House, Old Parliament House and Station Road.
It will include public artwork, water features, an art-themed playground, trees, shrubs and lawn, as well as ample seating and shelter to make it a year-round destination.
Lendlease's construction work is expected to take approximately 12 months and, once the AFL season is complete, the northern entrance to the Adelaide Railway Station will be closed for works.
The Adelaide Festival Centre car park will close in early 2017 to allow for the construction of the new car park, office tower and the redevelopment of the Festival Plaza.
Public access to the footbridge and the Adelaide Oval will be redirected to King William Road or a temporary pedestrian bridge near the InterContinental Adelaide.
Select tenders are currently open for the next stage of the project, the $21m Northern Promenade works ,which will include the creation of a new northern entrance to the Adelaide Festival Centre.
Alongside the Festival Plaza revamp is the $300m SKYCITY Adelaide expansion and the $430m development by Walker Corporation (office building, retail area and car park upgrade), making the collective value of the projects on the Adelaide Riverbank over $900m.
The works will provide a significant economic boost to the city and support an estimated 2500 jobs during construction and at least 400 ongoing jobs.
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Source: SA Govt, The Adelaide River Bank