[U/C] M2 North-South Motorway

[Llessur2002]

I imagine that when they decided they needed the turning lane it was cheaper and easier to just acquire the site than adjust the other plans slightly. Plus it gives them an extra bit of green space to tout how this is all actually an improvement for the local area, despite precedent showing it will likely end up being gravel or concrete with a sad tree if that.

I hope not, otherwise what's the point of state heritage listing a building if a token bit of grass that no-one will ever use and a 90s industrial unit are apparently a higher priority to protect?

[rev]

West Thebby hotel closing in July.

An unnecessary loss imo.

Completely. I can't understand of the life of me why the intersection couldn't be pushed a few meters further north to the land that's being vacated by the crash repair place etc and is earmarked for landscaping.

It's not like the whole West Thebby block is being used, just a tiny sliver of it.

Would the West Thebby road of that intersection then be curved, how much of a curve if it can't be aligned better with Ashwin Parade on the Brickworks side?
How will that impact the Brickworks? The South Road side there is loading docks and garbage collection for the shopping centre, I believe they access that from Ashwin Parade.

[Nathan]

Is a slip lane onto South Rd from West Thebarton Rd even needed?

[[Shuz]]

Yes, there is two bus routes that go left there.

[SouthAussie94]

Yes, there is two bus routes that go left there.

But presumably the majority of the South Rd traffic will be entering the tunnel? Couldn't a signalised left turn work considering the reduction in traffic volumes at grade?

[Nathan]

Yes, there is two bus routes that go left there.

But presumably the majority of the South Rd traffic will be entering the tunnel? Couldn't a signalised left turn work considering the reduction in traffic volumes at grade?

Exactly. The signalised turn works well enough now.

[[Shuz]]

For that particular left turn, I agree, it works fine as it is now, and agree to have a dedicated slip lane is overkill, especially given traffic volume will decrease, not increase.

[rev]

I don't think traffic from/to West Thebby Road/Ashwin Parade is going to reduce as much as people think, if at all.

People accessing the Brickworks will still use the intersection.
People coming from/to Ashwin Pde in particular in peak hours will still use the intersection as well going to work/home.
People crossing from/to Ashwin/WTR will as well.
I've never really seen many cars turning left from WTR though, so does seem a bit of overkill. But at the same time if we're going to the trouble of upgrading the whole road, why not 'future proof' to a degree? Wouldn't it be much easier it get it done now and have the alignments done properly, rather then trying to modify it all later once the tunnel entrances are built?

[abc]

I don't think traffic from/to West Thebby Road/Ashwin Parade is going to reduce as much as people think, if at all.

People accessing the Brickworks will still use the intersection.
People coming from/to Ashwin Pde in particular in peak hours will still use the intersection as well going to work/home.
People crossing from/to Ashwin/WTR will as well.
I've never really seen many cars turning left from WTR though, so does seem a bit of overkill. But at the same time if we're going to the trouble of upgrading the whole road, why not 'future proof' to a degree? Wouldn't it be much easier it get it done now and have the alignments done properly, rather then trying to modify it all later once the tunnel entrances are built?

I drive through there regularly. Most of the traffic is South Road origin. The amount of traffic using Brickworks is insignificant by comparison. Crossing traffic only banks up because of the traffic on South Road and slow lights.

[Llessur2002]

Seems like a weirdly unnecessary loss of a heritage listed building to me. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist but can't help notice the proximity of the Crows' new dining/bar venue and the convenient removal of the nearest competition for a left turn lane that doesn't really need to exist, and could seemingly be shifted 2 metres north with relative ease.

I also thought that half of the reason Labor insisted on redesigning this section (other than the very welcome removal of the elevated carriageway) was the retention of the West Thebby and Community Centre. Neither of which have apparently been saved.

[rev]

I don't think traffic from/to West Thebby Road/Ashwin Parade is going to reduce as much as people think, if at all.

People accessing the Brickworks will still use the intersection.
People coming from/to Ashwin Pde in particular in peak hours will still use the intersection as well going to work/home.
People crossing from/to Ashwin/WTR will as well.
I've never really seen many cars turning left from WTR though, so does seem a bit of overkill. But at the same time if we're going to the trouble of upgrading the whole road, why not 'future proof' to a degree? Wouldn't it be much easier it get it done now and have the alignments done properly, rather then trying to modify it all later once the tunnel entrances are built?

I drive through there regularly. Most of the traffic is South Road origin. The amount of traffic using Brickworks is insignificant by comparison. Crossing traffic only banks up because of the traffic on South Road and slow lights.

As do I, usually to turn to/from Ashwin Parade. It's not major traffic, but the times I go through, there's quite a bit of traffic coming from Ashwin Parade going left or right onto South Road, or turning onto it from south bound South Road. I see less coming from WTR, but the light sequence isn't that long for them so it's not an issue.
It's why I don't think there's going to be much of a reduction if at all in traffic volumes at this intersection. The motorway/tunnels aren't being designed to carry that traffic away from that intersection. People that use those roads/intersection for various purposes, are still going to need to use those roads and that intersection.

In fact, there might even be an increase in traffic volume with the Southwark housing development with the Brickworks being about a km or so away.

[claybro]

Seems like a weirdly unnecessary loss of a heritage listed building to me. I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist but can't help notice the proximity of the Crows' new dining/bar venue and the convenient removal of the nearest competition for a left turn lane that doesn't really need to exist, and could seemingly be shifted 2 metres north with relative ease.

I also thought that half of the reason Labor insisted on redesigning this section (other than the very welcome removal of the elevated carriageway) was the retention of the West Thebby and Community Centre. Neither of which have apparently been saved.

What a folly that community centre turned out to be. If I was a ratepayer I would not be happy about so much money wasted along what was clearly going to be a motorway. This very case was discussed on here when it was built. I do wonder though if the council is being compensated for the increased value.. and is actually cashing in … in which case it’s the SA taxpayer footing the bill.

[mrumley02]

In fact, there might even be an increase in traffic volume with the Southwark housing development with the Brickworks being about a km or so away.

I completely agree. Given that the first southbound exit after Port Rd will be past James Congdon Drive means that traffic flows on the Port Rd exit are going to increase dramatically with people looking to use Henley Beach Rd or SDB. Don’t really see congestion in this general area easing much, especially southbound which is often the worse of the two.

I’d also expect an uplift in the already large number of accidents, near-misses, and general congestion and bad behaviour at the Port Road exit.

[Westside]

I don't think traffic from/to West Thebby Road/Ashwin Parade is going to reduce as much as people think, if at all.

WTheb Rd is used for a lot of rat running for people heading north out of the city onto the motorway. It allows them to join at the start and avoid the Port Rd entrance. Once the tunnels go in, those entrances won't exist and more traffic will be funnelled into the already congested Port road entrance/exit instead.

Ashwin Pde is a carpark at peak but that's due to the bus only section and lack of signalised intersection on Ashley St making that an unviable alternative. It'd be interesting to see if that does go down with people choosing to use Grange Rd to get to Holbrooks rather than Ashwin when that intersection is upgraded and the option to avoid Grange and Port Rd intersections is removed.

[SouthAussie94]

I don't think traffic from/to West Thebby Road/Ashwin Parade is going to reduce as much as people think, if at all.

WTheb Rd is used for a lot of rat running for people heading north out of the city onto the motorway. It allows them to join at the start and avoid the Port Rd entrance. Once the tunnels go in, those entrances won't exist and more traffic will be funnelled into the already congested Port road entrance/exit instead.

Ashwin Pde is a carpark at peak but that's due to the bus only section and lack of signalised intersection on Ashley St making that an unviable alternative. It'd be interesting to see if that does go down with people choosing to use Grange Rd to get to Holbrooks rather than Ashwin when that intersection is upgraded and the option to avoid Grange and Port Rd intersections is removed.

Ashwin Pde is also a rat run for people coming from Marion Rd, wanting to get onto the NSM. Of a morning, you just need to see the number of cars coming from Marion Rd, onto HBR, and then left onto Hardys. As with many of these rat runs, they'll become irrelevant for the majority of users once the tunnels are built.