Young Street Driveway Entry Project

Design Feature

Project Type
Local Area Traffic Management / Healthy Streets Upgrade
State
Young Street, Parkside – City of Unley, South Australia
Location
Urban
The Young Street Driveway Entry Project was delivered as part of a broader local traffic management response to resident concerns in Parkside, a well-established inner-southern suburb of Adelaide. The area experienced high traffic volumes and speeding, particularly from vehicles using local streets as cut-throughs during peak times.

Following a Local Area Traffic Management (LATM) study in 2017–18, the City of Unley implemented this project to reduce through-traffic, lower vehicle speeds, and prioritise pedestrian safety and comfort. The selected sites at Young Street’s intersections with Jaffrey, Stamford, and Oxenbould streets were designed to test a “people-first” approach that balances vehicle access with improved liveability.
Key aims included enhancing safety for pedestrians, encouraging more walking and cycling, and contributing to a greener, more inviting streetscape.

Key Features
  • Driveway entry treatments at three intersectionsContinuous pedestrian footpaths across intersections
  • Native tree planting and landscaping
  • Integrated street furniture
  • Traffic calming and visual narrowing measures

Project Team
City of Unley (Project Lead)
GTA Consultants (Traffic Engineering)
Landscape and Civil Contractors (Construction)
Project Cost
Approx. $300,000 across three sites
Health value
  • Safer crossings and lower speeds promote walking and cycling for all ages
  • Continuous footpaths improve accessibility for people using prams, wheelchairs or mobility aids
  • Tree planting and greening enhance wellbeing and encourage outdoor activity
  • Streets feel safer and more comfortable, making physical activity easier to incorporate into daily life

Economic value
  • Cost-effective use of existing infrastructure
  • Enhanced street amenity supports local property values
  • Reduces wear on roads by discouraging excess traffic
  • Encourages walking to local destinations, supporting neighbourhood shops and services

Environmental value
  • Tree planting increases canopy cover and supports biodiversity
  • Landscaping reduces hard surfaces, helping to manage heat and stormwater
  • Lower traffic volumes contribute to reduced emissions and improved air quality
  • Encourages more sustainable, active transport modes

Social value
  • Streetscape improvements foster community pride and identity
  • Informal gathering spaces and seating support social connection
  • Inclusive design meets the needs of a diverse community
  • Strong community engagement ensured designs reflected local priorities

Use value
  • Traffic volumes reduced by 13–53% across sites
  • Peak-hour reductions of up to 261 vehicles per hour
  • High driver compliance with pedestrian priority
  • Streets are now safer and more enjoyable for walking and cycling
  • Residents report increased use and a stronger sense of local ownership

Timeline


Design initiated: 2018
Construction completed: June 2020
Evaluation completed: 2023

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