Changes to Elizabeth Bus Mall operations for Hyatt development

Published on 28 November 2017

There will be a number of temporary changes to operations in the Elizabeth Street Bus Mall from Sunday 10 December 2017, including some bus stop relocations, changes to traffic access and relocation of Elizabeth Street motorcycle parking.

These changes are required to safely facilitate the development of the Hyatt Centric Hotel in the Elizabeth Street Bus Mall.

The City of Hobart, as the permit authority, has issued a permit to Hutchinson Builders to occupy part of the roadway in the Bus Mall between the Metro Shop and the Discount Chemist for the purposes of demolishing the existing building and constructing the new hotel.The Lord Mayor, Alderman Sue Hickey said: “The changes were agreed to by Metro Tasmania and the Department of State Growth as the only viable solution to provide enough room for a work site.

The changes, commencing on 10 December 2017 for approximately two years until December 2019, involve:

• The existing Metro Tasmania bus stops servicing the eastern shore will be relocated adjacent to Franklin Square on Elizabeth Street and to outside the GPO and old Mercury building in Macquarie Street. 

• Elizabeth Street (from Davey Street to Macquarie Street) will be limited to buses, taxis, emergency vehicles, bicycles and permitted vehicles but access will remain open for all traffic heading toward the waterfront in Elizabeth Street (from Macquarie Street to Davey Street).
• Motorcycle parking will be relocated from Elizabeth Street to Macquarie Street (adjacent to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery) and to Post Street which is accessed from Franklin Wharf.
• The existing Metro bus stop in Campbell Street will be relocated into Macquarie Street and will include the installation of a new shelter.
• Changes have already been made to the traffic signals at the intersection of Macquarie and Elizabeth streets to facilitate the changed traffic arrangements.

Chairman of the Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Alderman Helen Burnet said: “Council officers have been working with the developer’s contractor, Metro Tasmania and the Department of State Growth to reach a solution that would assist in getting the development built but also minimise the impact on the public and nearby businesses.

“The Council approved the request in its role as the permit authority based on an independent traffic engineering assessment undertaken in conjunction with the Department of State Growth.

“In order to accommodate the construction footprint for a development of the size and nature of the Hyatt Centric, a temporary relocation of some Metro bus services is required.

“We have already advised directly affected businesses and there will be ongoing consultation with businesses and Bus Mall users by the contractor, Hutchinson Builders as the project progresses. 

Metro Tasmania will also be undertaking a comprehensive communications campaign to advise their passengers of the changes,” said Ald Burnet.

The Lord Mayor said that Hobart was continuing to see unprecedented levels of development.

“This is good for the city but development of the scale we are continuing to experience doesn’t come without challenges.

“There will be disruptions and some level of inconvenience and frustration with these changes but we ask that people remember that these changes are temporary.

“I think that most people can appreciate that this is a necessary part of major infrastructure construction and that developments like this are good for the city,” said the Lord Mayor.

Metro Tasmania’s eastern shore services are scheduled to be relocated from the Elizabeth Street bus mall from Sunday 10 December 2017 and further details about the changes to bus services are available at www.metrotas.com.au

Metro will have representatives on the ground during the changeover to assist passengers with the new bus stop arrangements.

Pedestrian access on Elizabeth Street, past the Hyatt Centric work site will be maintained during the works, however there will occasions, such as when the tower crane is installed and dismantled, that minor detours will occur.