News & Discussion: Roads & Traffic

[rev]

Panalatinga road exit ramp onto Southern Expressway, and at the intersection pf Panatalinga, Old South rd & Kenihans rd.
New led lane lighting being tested.

[neoballmon]

Came off the expressway at this exit last night, and I could see the lights for Expressway to Main South and as soon as Main South through traffic got the green light, the leds all switched off, so very bright and useful when exiting the expressway, and not distracting to other directions of travel!
Was very well done by what I could see. Didn't go to the Panalatinga/Old South intersection to see that.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[Spotto]

Was driving past the MSR/Candy/Lander intersection so decided to do a lap each way through. It's fully open but just a few finishing works and minor landscaping remain. Not sure how much can be said about an intersection but it seems pretty good, I'm sure locals and east-west traffic between Happy Valley and Hallett Cove/Sheidow Park will love it.

[rev]

Private contractors to take over all SA road maintainence, in State Government bid to get bang for buck, unlock new projects
Daniel Wills, State Political Editor, The Advertiser
July 7, 2020 12:00am
Subscriber only

All State Government road maintenance will be outsourced to private contractors, in a move it says will achieve a better price for taxpayers and allow spending on more projects.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll will on Tuesday reveal that new contracts have been awarded for the repairs of SA’s 23,000km road network.

It extends a 20-year record of industry involvement, but increases the private share of work from 60 per cent to 100 per cent.

The decision is likely to revive a political battle with Labor over privatisation, as Mr Knoll pushes ahead with plans to outsource the operation of the passenger tram and train networks.

The road maintenance contracts have been awarded across four zones.

The Adelaide metropolitan and regional north areas will be handled by DM Roads, regional south work is awarded to Fulton Hogan, and Lendlease Boral Joint Venture has the Outback.

Mr Knoll said the contracts “allow us to leverage the expertise and efficiency of industry to deliver better and safer roads for South Australian motorists”.

“Our priority is keeping our roads as safe as possible for motorists,” he said.

“These companies are experts in road maintenance and employ thousands of South Australians, either under existing contacts or on past projects.”

He said the contracts included key performance indicators to target and monitor the use of small and medium-sized local companies.

Mr Knoll said there would be financial penalties for not meeting required standards.

“Through these new contracts we have been able to get a better bargain for taxpayers to drive their dollar further.”

Mr Knoll said the former Labor Government had issued contracts to the same companies, and engaged in the outsourcing of road maintenance when in power.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 3a9cd5e870

[Eurostar]

Private contractors to take over all SA road maintainence, in State Government bid to get bang for buck, unlock new projects
Daniel Wills, State Political Editor, The Advertiser
July 7, 2020 12:00am
Subscriber only

All State Government road maintenance will be outsourced to private contractors, in a move it says will achieve a better price for taxpayers and allow spending on more projects.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll will on Tuesday reveal that new contracts have been awarded for the repairs of SA’s 23,000km road network.

It extends a 20-year record of industry involvement, but increases the private share of work from 60 per cent to 100 per cent.

The decision is likely to revive a political battle with Labor over privatisation, as Mr Knoll pushes ahead with plans to outsource the operation of the passenger tram and train networks.

The road maintenance contracts have been awarded across four zones.

The Adelaide metropolitan and regional north areas will be handled by DM Roads, regional south work is awarded to Fulton Hogan, and Lendlease Boral Joint Venture has the Outback.

Mr Knoll said the contracts “allow us to leverage the expertise and efficiency of industry to deliver better and safer roads for South Australian motorists”.

“Our priority is keeping our roads as safe as possible for motorists,” he said.

“These companies are experts in road maintenance and employ thousands of South Australians, either under existing contacts or on past projects.”

He said the contracts included key performance indicators to target and monitor the use of small and medium-sized local companies.

Mr Knoll said there would be financial penalties for not meeting required standards.

“Through these new contracts we have been able to get a better bargain for taxpayers to drive their dollar further.”

Mr Knoll said the former Labor Government had issued contracts to the same companies, and engaged in the outsourcing of road maintenance when in power.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 3a9cd5e870

No privatisation!!

If anything bring back the Highways Department

[NTRabbit]

Looking forward to the state government paying the same amount of money to them to only do maintenance on the roads the transport industry double dip pays for, and nowhere else

[SBD]

Looking forward to the state government paying the same amount of money to them to only do maintenance on the roads the transport industry double dip pays for, and nowhere else

The state government only pays for the main roads now, so I doubt that would change. The local roads that clog up with school traffic are already council responsibilities.

[ChillyPhilly]

Looking forward to the state government paying the same amount of money to them to only do maintenance on the roads the transport industry double dip pays for, and nowhere else

The state government only pays for the main roads now, so I doubt that would change. The local roads that clog up with school traffic are already council responsibilities.

Correct. All main roads and many local collector roads are the responsibility of DPTI. Any exceptions are the responsibility of the Federal Government.

[Spotto]

Design renders for the $30mil Flagstaff Road Upgrade have been released. Early works to begin this year and main construction in 2021.

A long overdue project, nice to see it finally being fixed. The dedicated right turns will help immensely because the people living on the road love to stop in the middle of the road to turn in even when only one uphill lane is open.

https://youtu.be/p7Wfb27NjR4

[OlympusAnt]

long overdue is an understatement

[SBD]

long overdue is an understatement

"We" seem to like knocking the Liberals for building the one-way Southern Expressway. Was it Bannon Labor that built this section of Flagstaff Road around 1988?

[PeFe]

Road funding for South Australia.

Federal Budget delivers $625m more to SA road upgrades from Hahndorf to Goodwood and state’s north, securing 2600 local jobs

City and country road upgrades across SA will get a $625m cash injection from Tuesday Federal Budget, in abid to secure 2600 local jobsfrom the COVID recession.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will tomorrow reveal highly-anticipated details of a national infrastructure pipeline plan that will be a Budget showpiece alongside income tax cuts. Projects include a $200m upgrade for Hahndorf and its access routes.

Funding parcels of $136m have been set aside for both the duplication of Main South Road between Aldinga and Sellicks Beach, and a Princes Highway package including rest stops and overtaking lanes. The long-stalled sealing of the notorious Strzelecki Track, a key oil and gas freight route in SA’s north that is arguably the state’s worst road, will receive $100m.

In Adelaide, the Goodwood and Torrens rail junction projects will get an extra $13.2m.

South Eastern Freeway safety upgrades are in line for $28m in new money. A planned Victor Harbor Road upgrade will also get $12m in funding.

Several of the projects already have cash committed, adding up to a total $775m spend. Mr Morrison said the Coalition Federal Government had committed more than $9.8bn for infrastructure in SA since coming to power in 2013.

Past federal budgets have allocated $2.7bn to finishing South Road, to be matched by the state, but a design has not been finalised.

“The substantial injection of funding delivered in this year’s Budget shows the Government is serious about laying the foundations for an infrastructure-led recovery from the economic shock of the global pandemic,” Mr Morrison said.

This article first appeared on www.adelaidenow.com.au

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/fede ... local-jobs

[SRW]

A lot of this is just previously announced projects from the budget out-years finally coming to fruition. Not nearly enough new money or shovel ready stuff to help remedy the economic collapse.

[SouthAussie94]

Road funding for South Australia.

Federal Budget delivers $625m more to SA road upgrades from Hahndorf to Goodwood and state’s north, securing 2600 local jobs

City and country road upgrades across SA will get a $625m cash injection from Tuesday Federal Budget, in abid to secure 2600 local jobsfrom the COVID recession.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will tomorrow reveal highly-anticipated details of a national infrastructure pipeline plan that will be a Budget showpiece alongside income tax cuts. Projects include a $200m upgrade for Hahndorf and its access routes.

Funding parcels of $136m have been set aside for both the duplication of Main South Road between Aldinga and Sellicks Beach, and a Princes Highway package including rest stops and overtaking lanes. The long-stalled sealing of the notorious Strzelecki Track, a key oil and gas freight route in SA’s north that is arguably the state’s worst road, will receive $100m.

In Adelaide, the Goodwood and Torrens rail junction projects will get an extra $13.2m.

South Eastern Freeway safety upgrades are in line for $28m in new money. A planned Victor Harbor Road upgrade will also get $12m in funding.

Several of the projects already have cash committed, adding up to a total $775m spend. Mr Morrison said the Coalition Federal Government had committed more than $9.8bn for infrastructure in SA since coming to power in 2013.

Past federal budgets have allocated $2.7bn to finishing South Road, to be matched by the state, but a design has not been finalised.

“The substantial injection of funding delivered in this year’s Budget shows the Government is serious about laying the foundations for an infrastructure-led recovery from the economic shock of the global pandemic,” Mr Morrison said.

This article first appeared on www.adelaidenow.com.au

https://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/fede ... local-jobs

What does the $200 million for Hahndorf entail? Seems like a lot of money for a relatively small Adelaide Hills town

[SRW]

Yes, it doesn't seem particularly creditable, does it? The SE-FWY upgrade between Crafers/Stirling is only around $14 million. Perhaps they wanted an even more ludicrous cheque for Georgina Downer to hold?

Apparently the government doesn't even know itself nor plans to cough up till 2022. From the rag:

$250 million Hahndorf traffic project expected to break ground late 2022
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 55d33e9ec6

The centrepiece of the Federal Government’s $625m infrastructure splurge in South Australia is not expected to break ground until late 2022.

As part of its Federal Budget announcements, the Government says it will inject $200 million into traffic and safety improvements in Hahndorf.

It says the State Government, which will oversee the project, will cough up the remaining $50 million for the project.

It is unclear exactly what the upgrade will include or how the Federal Government determined the price tag for it.

The upgrade will be based on the outcome of a traffic study that is currently underway into congestion, connectivity, freight efficiency and safety issues in and around Hahndorf.

The study is due to be completed and handed to the State Government for consideration later this year but initial construction work is not earmarked to begin until after the next Federal Election.

“Once a design has been chosen, land acquisition and service works will commence in late 2022,” a spokeswoman for State Transport Minister Corey Wingard said.

A spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the Federal Government committed $1 million towards the study and the Budget announcement built on this investment.

“Project details such as designs and construction timeframes will be determined as soon as possible in conjunction with the South Australian Government as part of the usual planning and pre-construction processes,” she said.

However, Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie said $15 million of the funding would go towards a full-functioning, two-way interchange for which she had been advocating.

“The current interchange only travels in one direction which means trucks and cars travelling through the Adelaide Hills heading towards Murray Bridge need to weave through Hahndorf or Littlehampton in order to gain access to the Freeway,” she said.

“Similarly, without a freeway exit at Verdun, we are missing out on visitors to the Adelaide Hills.”

Mount Barker Mayor Ann Ferguson said she hoped the project would divert trucks away from Hahndorf’s narrow main street.

“It’s something that we’ve been waiting for for many many years,” she said.

“It will be a dream come true.”

Zac Bratis, 31, of Pooraka, regularly visits Hahndorf with his family and said he hoped the project would include pedestrians crossings and a car park a street or so back from the main thoroughfare.

“It would just make life easier knowing you can get in and get out,” he said.

But Deputy Opposition Leader Susan Close said the announcement of a $625 million cash splash must be treated with heavy scepticism, saying many projects listed were not new and previous budget announcements had never eventuated.

“South Australia has been used to receiving around $500 million a year, every year from Canberra, that’s dropped off dramatically (so) to suggest that $600 million over four years, even if it’s new money, even if it’s real, is enough is just wrong,” she said.

Mr Wingard hit back, saying “Labor just needs to keep their mouths shut”.

As part of the $625 million spend, funding parcels of $136 million have been set aside for the duplication of Main South Rd, between Aldinga and Sellicks Beach, and overtaking lands and rest stops for the Princes Highway.

The long-awaited sealing of the Strzelecki Track in the state’s Far North will receive $100 million and the Goodwood and Torrens rail junction projects will get a $13.2 million boost.

And the precipitating DPTI study: https://dpti.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/r ... ning_study