Council is transforming the main street of Kingston, Channel Highway, into an attractive and inviting destination, improving the retail and commercial experiences for residents and visitors.
After consulting with the community, Council voted on the design at a Council Meeting on 4 April 2022.
The design allows for future growth and improves pedestrian access for all, provides enhanced cycling capabilities, new green areas throughout the CBD and creates outdoor dining opportunities for cafes and restaurants along the main strip.
The upgrades will transform Kingston into an attractive and vibrant centre creating further investment and providing an engaging urban environment.
Timeline
Construction will take approximately 10 months to complete and will start on Tuesday 14 February 2023.
To speed up overall construction and save costs on the street upgrade, a small section of the Channel Highway, from John Street to Hutchins Street will be closed to traffic on Tuesday 28 February, and partially opened to vehicle traffic from Tuesday 30 May.
This will allow the remaining footpath works to be completed safely and without the need for additional traffic management. There will be increased access for pedestrians from May 30 as well. The partial closure of the northern lane will allow the overall project to finish on time.
Please see map below for how the partial opening to traffic will work.
Council awarded the construction tender to BlackCap Construction at the Council Meeting on the 19 December 2022.
Bus Stop Relocation
During the upgrade of the Channel Highway, there will be alternative bus stops opened on Goshawk Way, for both inbound and outbound commuters who use the Kingston Central bus stops (please see map).
Commuters who want to travel on Metro bus routes 407, 408, 409, 427, 428, 429, 410, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 422, and X08 from Tuesday 28 February, will need to use temporary bus stops installed on Goshawk Way.
Anyone wishing to travel on a Tassielink Transit to and from Huon Valley or Hobart (routes 710, 711, 712, 714, 715, 716, 718, 719) who catch the bus from Channel Hwy main bus stop will also need to catch the buses on Goshawk Way from Tuesday 28 February.
If you travel via a Wisby bus and normally use the Kingston Central bus stops, you will need to get on and off these buses on Goshawk Way, via the temporary bus stops.
Information and maps will be available at both the bus stops which will be relocated.
The bus shelters on Channel Highway will be removed on Monday 27 February and relocated to the temporary bus stops on Goshawk Way.
Both these shelters have seating inside them for commuters.
Pedestrians are advised that there are 6 pedestrian refuges along Goshawk Way including:
Please see map
• At Channel Highway/Freeman Street roundabout
• Near junction of Pardalote Parade
• Near junction of Sparrowhawk Street
• Near junction of Skipper Lane and outbound bus stop
• Near inbound bus stop
• At Huon Highway/Goshawk Way roundabout
UPGRADES
Disclaimer: all photos featured are artistic impressions of designs and may differ slightly to actual build.
Public transport facilities
The relocation of the Hobart-bound bus stop to a Bus interchange hub at 40 Channel Highway – previously the Southern Denture Clinic. Photo
New bus shelter, enhanced seating and improved level access for all outside the Commonwealth Bank south bound bus stop on Channel Highway. Photo
Permanent roundabout
Installed at the intersection of Hutchins Street with Channel Highway with pedestrian refuges.
Pedestrian crossings
Improved crossing facilities at the intersection of John Street and the Channel Highway. Photo
A new zebra crossing on Channel Hwy will be installed from Liv Eat to Denison Dental. Photo
Raised platforms around the Hutchins Street roundabout and the entrance to the Channel Court shopping centre at the Channel Highway.
Traffic calming and safety measures
A central median island up the centre of the Channel Highway with new streetlights and CCTV.
Footpaths and potential outdoor dining spaces
3 metre wide level footpaths improving all ability access as well as creating additional space for potential alfresco dining. Photo
Aesthetic improvements
The design includes more street trees, vegetation, street art and furniture in the CBD.
Carparking changes
Additional on-street car parking spaces will be created along Channel Highway.
During the construction phase a few all-day parking spots will be unavailable in the John Street carpark due to the expanded building site. The entry and exit points to John Street carpark will also be relocated to Goshawk Way.
Eventually this entire carpark will be removed to create a public open space (Fantail Parade) with seating and trees. Photo
To view the location of Skipper Lane Carpark and John Street please view map here.
Bike commuting facility upgrade
A new uphill bike lane for southern bound cyclists will be included in the design. Photo
Future Design
When Kingston has the carparking capacity in the future, and we experience population growth in the Kingston Park area, planned additional works will include the installation of on-street dining, a protected cycle lane, public art, and street furniture. This will result in the replacement of 10 parking spaces on the southbound side of the Channel Highway, to create a more engaging streetscape.
Consultation on Design
The Transform Kingston CBD consultation involved public consultation through pop up engagement stalls, a survey and media reports. There were two options for the public to vote for. The consultation closed on 19 January 2022.
A report was produced by Zencity on the public consultation and submitted to Council.
The following report reviews resident input about the Kingborough Council Transform Kingston plan by analysing a survey designed and deployed by Kingborough Council. The survey received responses from the general public and from business-sector stakeholders between 3 December, 2021, and 20 January, 2022. The survey findings are complemented by an analysis of organic social media discourse and can be viewed here.
Past Consultation in Kingborough
The Kingston Place Strategy was developed in partnership with local businesses, the community and Kingborough Council. It was adopted by Council in May, 2020. The strategy was developed via extensive stakeholder consultations, with almost 1,800 stakeholders over a 5-month period in late 2019 and early 2020.
The findings have been used from the Kingston Place Strategy to help develop the concepts for Kingston CBD that were taken to the public in 2021/22.