Ban on cars in Salamanca a step closer

A PLAN to prevent cars driving through the heart of Salamanca in favour of pedestrian spaces got the tick of approval from the Hobart City Council’s infrastructure committee last night.

The $3.5 million proposal, revealed in the Mercury yesterday, would result in vehicles no longer being able to drive through part of Salamanca from the waterfront.

The existing road connecting Morrison St to Montpelier Retreat would close to make way for a multiple-purpose area for pedestrians and other purposes such as car parking, the Salamanca Market and special events.

It also involves: CONVERTING the existing two-lane one-way road connecting Gladstone St to Morrison St into a two-way road. RECONSTRUCTING and re- aligning Castray Esplanade to form a conventional T-intersection with Morrison St. CREATING a new pedestrian walkway from Castray Esplanade to the waterfront. INSTALLING five zebra-style pedestrian priority crossings around Salamanca.

The proposal was unanimously approved by the committee last night after a brief discussion and will now go before the full council.

Motorists would still be able to drive along Salamanca Place, but chair of the city infrastructure committee Alder- man Helen Burnet said it would hopefully ease traffic pressures in the area.

“It takes some of the cars out of Salamanca,” she said.

Businesses are backing the plan, says Waterfront Business Community president Richard Latham.

“The original concept was conceived by one of our members,” he said.

“We thought that if they can capture some of that area it would be a benefit for the Salamanca Market, the Taste and for parking during the week. I think it will improve the area.”