MINOR safety works are set to be completed on the Frome St bikeway while Adelaide City Council starts funding negotiations for a $10 million redesign and extension of the controversial piece of cycling infrastructure.

The council’s Economic and Community Development Committee on Tuesday voted to go ahead with safety improvements such as painting green cycling lanes through intersections and reducing the height of concrete planter boxes at an estimated cost of $90,000.

But the committee also voted to continue work on the “Rolls Royce” options for redesigning the Frome St bikeway and extending it to North Tce, while negotiating with the State Government for a co-contribution and imposing a deadline of next March for a funding agreement.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan has said he would consider funding the redesign and extension of the bikeway but has not made any commitment yet.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said he was optimistic a finding deal could be negotiated with the State Government.

media_camera An artist's impression of how the northern end of Frome St could look with the bikeway extended through the area.

“I look forward to engaging with the community and State Government to develop high-quality design concepts for the northern section of Frome given the opportunities presented by the Royal Adelaide Hospital redevelopment and the new Adelaide High School,” he said.

Several options for the redesign and extension of the bikeway would be considered including returning Frome St to four lanes during peak hours or retaining the current two lanes for vehicle traffic.

Councillor Phillip Martin put forward the proposal to include a deadline in the council’s negotiation with the State Government.

He said he did not want a repeat of the Victoria Square project where the council spent $28 million redeveloping the area without a contribution from the State Government.

“We may end up getting one of the Rolls Royce (options) but it should only be done on the basis of a co-funding (agreement) with the State Government,” Mr Martin said.

“Residents and ratepayers are getting increasingly agitated about this (the cost).”

Councillor Natasha Malani said the redesign and extension of the bikeway could not proceed without state funding.

media_camera An artist's impression of how a redesigned Frome St south could look with a return to four lanes of traffic in peak hours

“It’s not something that we (as a council) can do alone,” she said.

The controversial Frome St bikeway has already cost ratepayers $1.6 million and caused division between city motorist, who claim it has caused an unnecessary bottleneck, and cyclists.

The designs being considered by the council for redesigning and extending the bikeway would cost between $10 million and $11.5 million to build the infrastructure over seven city blocks.

The more expensive options being considered by the council would meet new standards included in the Adelaide Design Manual and have been touted as a way to attract new residential and commercial developments in the area.

As part of the consultation for the proposed redesign and extension of the bikeway, more reports on the economic and traffic impacts would need to be completed.

This comes after an independent consultants’ report, which cost $89,000, and the latest staff report which prompted the council to consider the $10 million plus options for the bikeway.