[COM] South Road Superway | $842m | 3km

[rev]

I cant understand all the excitement of this upgrade if it pans out as stated. 60-80km/h is not sufficent to get large volumes of traffic moving particularly for vehcles travelling the whole length. Even arterial roads in other Australian cities have at least a 70-80km/h with traffic lights or not. I wont go on about this in this thread, but rest assured in 20 years when/if this upgrade is finished, it wont even go close to being adequate.

Consult your crystal ball for me, and give me the winning numbers for the $22 million lotto mega draw on the 22nd of sept.

ps, what is it with this bloody obsession with comparing us to other cities? What, are they perfect paradises that we measure everything against now?

[claybro]

A comparison of what does and doesnt work in other states is absolutely relevant here as we BEGIN (30 years later) to upgrade our major transport route in this very linear city. We will have a freeway standard southern expressway, and a freeway standard northern connector both funneling into an arterial road 2 lanes in either direction travelling at ....60km/h. Dont need a crystal ball to see what a mess that will be.

[Aidan]

A comparison of what does and doesnt work in other states is absolutely relevant here as we BEGIN (30 years later) to upgrade our major transport route in this very linear city. We will have a freeway standard southern expressway, and a freeway standard northern connector both funneling into an arterial road 2 lanes in either direction travelling at ....60km/h. Dont need a crystal ball to see what a mess that will be.

A 60km/h road has more capacity than a 100km/h road with the same number of lanes. The only disadvantage is travel time, but even there the difference is small. And the traffic won't all be funneled onto South Road. Much of the traffic from the north is going to the port, the rail terminal, the factories or the warehouses. And much of the traffic from the south will continue to go onto parallel roads.

In combination with more railways, it should be adeqate for decades - but if it becomes inadequate they can build more roads underground.

[neoballmon]

Even if they made it 100km/h, that doesn't necessarily mean 100km/h anyway. Look at Melbourne's Freeways during peak hour. It's bumper to bumper and 60km/h if you're lucky.
But yes, South Road would most likely be a bit of a nightmare at 60km/h. But I also cannot see a road with trenches, tunnels and grade separations being 100km/h. 80km/h would be sufficient I think, I could see this being achievable with the present state of South Road from north of the Edwardstown precinct, through to Richmond Road, with a few minor traffic restrictions.
Anyway, we're heading very quickly into the future. Variable speed signs are making their way onto our roads. They can easily be installed along South Road as well. 60km/h in peak if necessary. 80km/h out of peak.

[rev]

A comparison of what does and doesnt work in other states is absolutely relevant here as we BEGIN (30 years later) to upgrade our major transport route in this very linear city. We will have a freeway standard southern expressway, and a freeway standard northern connector both funneling into an arterial road 2 lanes in either direction travelling at ....60km/h. Dont need a crystal ball to see what a mess that will be.

It's completely irrelevant.
What is relevant, is what is going to happen and what is happening HERE, in ADELAIDE.
The speed limit in other cities has no relevance to a road project in Adelaide.

[claybro]

Even if they made it 100km/h, that doesn't necessarily mean 100km/h anyway. Look at Melbourne's Freeways during peak hour. It's bumper to bumper and 60km/h if you're lucky.

And yet for the other 21-22 hours of the day, and all day on weekends, these same freeways provide free flowing rapid travel from all directions and through Melbourne saving millions per year in transport costs. As Adelaidians seem to think freeways are the devils work, we will continue our crawl along South Road for many decades to come as there is no political pressure for otherwise. Now can we go back to some pretty pictures of the Superway please!

[Nort]

I think it would be great if the government managed to make South Road unbroken but at a relatively low speed. For reference, if you could travel along South Road at 70kmph it would only take 7 minutes to get from Regency Road to Anzac Highway.

[neoballmon]

And yet for the other 21-22 hours of the day, and all day on weekends, these same freeways provide free flowing rapid travel from all directions and through Melbourne saving millions per year in transport costs. As Adelaidians seem to think freeways are the devils work, we will continue our crawl along South Road for many decades to come as there is no political pressure for otherwise. Now can we go back to some pretty pictures of the Superway please!

I don't think freeways are the devils work. I think quite the opposite to be honest. I would love if at least some parts of the MATS plan had been developed. But it's in the past now. No point winging, time to head to the future.
I was trying to say that when demand is high, traffic will slow down, thus keeping the road slightly safer than it would be at 100km/h when busy, and it can remain fast and free flowing when quieter. I just don't feel a modified South Road would actually be able to handle 100km/h at ANY time. A new road would be needed for this. Unless they remove ALL local streets and probably half of the current signalised intersections. And businesses (which I don't encourage).

Now can we go back to some pretty pictures of the Superway please!

I have to head that way later this week, so if I have spare time, I'll get the camera out and grab some

I think it would be great if the government managed to make South Road unbroken but at a relatively low speed. For reference, if you could travel along South Road at 70kmph it would only take 7 minutes to get from Regency Road to Anzac Highway.

7 Minutes? That sounds so wonderful! As opposed to the 20 odd minutes at the average speed of about 30km/h I tend to experience

[drsmith]

Ok, I do see where you're coming from Amused, and I guess I'll have to believe that it is the most cost effective option available that provides the necessary function, but just looking at it..it looks so extreme and overpriced. It's just hard to accept..


Also, looking at the July 6 Nearmap photo, at the northern end of this project, I'm noticing the alingment of their supports are much further to the west than the previous road. I knew they were building a larger loop connecting to the Salisbury Highway, but I thought it would use the old bridge, hence re-aligning traffic on there during construction. But now it looks like they'll have to build a brand new bridge and eventually demolish the old one. Can anyone confirm this? And are they building the extra bridges that will be reqired for the Northern Connector? Plans (that I've found at least) have been very scarce, and to be honest, I've been able to make more sense from the Northern Connector proposed, unfinalised images of this interchange!

The western allignement is to tie in with the proposed Northern Connector.

If the current bridge is unsuitable for the ultimate southbound carriageway, it will have to be demolished and rebuilt.

http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/__d ... change.jpg

[neoballmon]

Ah ok thank you Drsmith. That image helps. I think I have seen it long ago, but couldn't find it recently.


Went through the Superway corridor today. Unfortunately it was raining, both times I passed through. So I didn't get out and get pictures.. But I did set up the camera in my car and get the drive on film.

[claybro]

Awsome neoballmon. Gives a real perspective of the size of this developement. Must admit when driving through I get a bit nervous under all that construction and overhanging concrete, but its really moving along now. Still not sure wht the road deck is so high.,

[rev]

http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/__d ... change.jpg

Perhaps I'm just blind but there doesn't seem to be a way for east bound traffic on the PREXY to get on to the Superway and head south..

[Brando]

http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/__d ... change.jpg

Perhaps I'm just blind but there doesn't seem to be a way for east bound traffic on the PREXY to get on to the Superway and head south..

There is mate, the current turn is in red, which will be returned to wetlands. You can see the thin yellow line which loops around to join the superway.

[rev]

http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/__d ... change.jpg

Perhaps I'm just blind but there doesn't seem to be a way for east bound traffic on the PREXY to get on to the Superway and head south..

There is mate, the current turn is in red, which will be returned to wetlands. You can see the thin yellow line which loops around to join the superway.

Yeh I know about that. But it's likely to be removed.
And I just noticed just further up from the red bit there will be another loop to get onto south road. Guess I was partially blind yesterday.

[neoballmon]

Awsome neoballmon. Gives a real perspective of the size of this developement. Must admit when driving through I get a bit nervous under all that construction and overhanging concrete, but its really moving along now. Still not sure wht the road deck is so high.,

Glad you liked it. I'm a little disappointed at how much Youtube reduced the quality of it though.
I've often wondered why it's so high as well.