[COM] M2 Northern Connector | 15.5km | $867m

[Brucetiki]

For those interested, here are some updated daily traffic figures for the Northern Connector:
Wingfield to Bolivar: 44,400
Bolivar to Waterloo Corner: 43,200
Waterloo Corner to Virginia: 35,700

Traffic has also reduced on the surrounding road network, except of course the Superway.

Salisbury Highway
2015: 69,300
2020: 40,900

Port Wakefield Road - Mawson Lakes to Bolivar
2015: 58,600
2020: 25,800

Port Wakefield Road - Bolivar to Waterloo Corner
2015: 48,800
2020: 19,900

Port Wakefield Road - Waterloo Corner to Virginia
2015: 41,300
2020: 12,900

North-South Motorway (Superway)
2015: 36,200
2020: 48,600

Be interesting so see how much COVID affected the surrounding road numbers, given the connector opened just before all the COVID restrictions kicked in.

[Brucetiki]

The Bolivar Rd on ramp had it's speed limit increased from 70 km/h to 90 km/h. This makes more sense as 70 always felt painfully slow given the length of the on ramp.

Hopefully they can bump up the speed limit for the last bit of the southbound stretch before the southern interchange - the change to 90 feels quite early, especially as the equivalent northbound lanes are at 110

[Bacon]

Northern connector is now on street view

[Brucetiki]

So they closed the entire connector last weekend to add black paint to a section of lines.

Driving along the section they're trialling the black lines, and it looks absolutely ridiculous - just looks like they've blacked out the old line and put new white lines on top of it - and the white lines contrast better on the concrete than the black lines do!

[Ozbear73]

It’s interesting they are trialing black coloured lines on the Northern Connector. I have an eye condition that makes it difficult for me to see white objects on similar coloured surfaces in glary daylight conditions.

I’ve always struggled to see the white lines in the daytime on the northern connector yet I have no problem at night. I had always thought perhaps darker lines than white would be better because the surface of the concrete roadway is an extremely light grey.

I will be interested to see the outcome of these trials that are mentioned above by Brucetiki....

[Nathan]

Is alternating black/white lines not an option?

[Bacon]

So they closed the entire connector last weekend to add black paint to a section of lines.

Driving along the section they're trialling the black lines, and it looks absolutely ridiculous - just looks like they've blacked out the old line and put new white lines on top of it - and the white lines contrast better on the concrete than the black lines do!

https://youtu.be/zPGQJvC6n0M

[rev]

So, how about a test of those new line markings in the rain? During sunny/cloudy conditions when the roads wet?

They trialled those LED lights on the markings, was it in the hills?...why can't that be a regular feature on our roads? That would surely help especially during wet conditions or when visibility is reduced ie fog.
If they were smart about it, they could be triggered to turn on in advance like the yellow safety lights at Port Wakefield. But this is SA government so wishful thinking on my part.

[mrumley02]

So, how about a test of those new line markings in the rain? During sunny/cloudy conditions when the roads wet?

They trialled those LED lights on the markings, was it in the hills?...why can't that be a regular feature on our roads? That would surely help especially during wet conditions or when visibility is reduced ie fog.
If they were smart about it, they could be triggered to turn on in advance like the yellow safety lights at Port Wakefield. But this is SA government so wishful thinking on my part.

I remember seeing the LED line markings at the SEXY/Panaltinga Rd junction at Old Reynella. Worked really well. This would be a great solution for the M2. Unfortunately unlikely to happen as SA is… well… SA.
How long where the M2 lights on the Superway on for??? Minutes?

[rev]

So, how about a test of those new line markings in the rain? During sunny/cloudy conditions when the roads wet?

They trialled those LED lights on the markings, was it in the hills?...why can't that be a regular feature on our roads? That would surely help especially during wet conditions or when visibility is reduced ie fog.
If they were smart about it, they could be triggered to turn on in advance like the yellow safety lights at Port Wakefield. But this is SA government so wishful thinking on my part.

I remember seeing the LED line markings at the SEXY/Panaltinga Rd junction at Old Reynella. Worked really well. This would be a great solution for the M2. Unfortunately unlikely to happen as SA is… well… SA.
How long where the M2 lights on the Superway on for??? Minutes?

What M2 lights?

[mrumley02]

So, how about a test of those new line markings in the rain? During sunny/cloudy conditions when the roads wet?

They trialled those LED lights on the markings, was it in the hills?...why can't that be a regular feature on our roads? That would surely help especially during wet conditions or when visibility is reduced ie fog.
If they were smart about it, they could be triggered to turn on in advance like the yellow safety lights at Port Wakefield. But this is SA government so wishful thinking on my part.

I remember seeing the LED line markings at the SEXY/Panaltinga Rd junction at Old Reynella. Worked really well. This would be a great solution for the M2. Unfortunately unlikely to happen as SA is… well… SA.
How long where the M2 lights on the Superway on for??? Minutes?

What M2 lights?

When the South Road Superway initially opened the side panels (those green wave-shaped things) lit up at night. Weren’t left like that long and haven’t operated since that I’m aware.

[rev]

I remember seeing the LED line markings at the SEXY/Panaltinga Rd junction at Old Reynella. Worked really well. This would be a great solution for the M2. Unfortunately unlikely to happen as SA is… well… SA.
How long where the M2 lights on the Superway on for??? Minutes?

What M2 lights?

When the South Road Superway initially opened the side panels (those green wave-shaped things) lit up at night. Weren’t left like that long and haven’t operated since that I’m aware.

Oh wow I had no idea. Every time I drive past them I always wonder why they don't light them up.
That's Adelaide for you though I guess.

[bits]

McIntyre Road has always had significant problems. It gets cut back and new bitumen every few years to relevel it. The same work will likely be due again by 2023.
Clearly the road has structural problems but no one has done better than continued patch work to relevel.

Just wanted to point out most of McIntyre Road is currently being redone again to level the road.
So my guess of 2023 was far too generous. My quote was from when McIntyre Road was being resurfaced in March 2020.

I always wonder if they will ever redo the gutters. Much of them are now under the bitumen.

[ChillyPhilly]

McIntyre Road has always had significant problems. It gets cut back and new bitumen every few years to relevel it. The same work will likely be due again by 2023.
Clearly the road has structural problems but no one has done better than continued patch work to relevel.

Just wanted to point out most of McIntyre Road is currently being redone again to level the road.
So my guess of 2023 was far too generous. My quote was from when McIntyre Road was being resurfaced in March 2020.

I always wonder if they will ever redo the gutters. Much of them are now under the bitumen.

A bit of trivia: McIntyre Road was intended to be a freeway under the MATS Plan.

[PD2/20]

McIntyre Road has always had significant problems. It gets cut back and new bitumen every few years to relevel it. The same work will likely be due again by 2023.
Clearly the road has structural problems but no one has done better than continued patch work to relevel.

Just wanted to point out most of McIntyre Road is currently being redone again to level the road.
So my guess of 2023 was far too generous. My quote was from when McIntyre Road was being resurfaced in March 2020.

I always wonder if they will ever redo the gutters. Much of them are now under the bitumen.

The current work seems to be confined to between The Golden Way and Milne Rd. Last year's only resurfaced a number of sections of the roadway. Resurfaced sections from 2020 are clearly visible southbound between Milne and Wright.