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

[Ben]

I drove through this on Saturday and was less then impressed.

Yes it took 45 minutes from Richmond Road to just pass the Tram tracks but I guess delays are to be expected until 100% complete, but what is with the permanent 80's style fencing all down the middle of the underpass. It looks cheap and tacky and coming back from Melbourne today we certainly could use some ideas from their freeways and public artwork.

it is pretty pathetic we always revert back to the cheap and the easy.

[Will409]

I went through yesterday morning and I was fairly impressed. Closing down one lane and a speed restriction of 25km/h did certainly slow things down but that said, it was quicker getting through the area then in times past. Can anyone comfirm is both lanes are operational today?

[ozisnowman]

Yep both lanes open and traffic flowing more freely, however they will have to eventually expand south road to 3 lanes each way
to allow the merging lanes from Anzac Highway and future underpasses to more easily merge back into the traffic, thus
truely creating a non-stop road.

[DM8]

Yep both lanes open and traffic flowing more freely, however they will have to eventually expand south road to 3 lanes each way....

As much as I would love to see that, I doubt it willl ever happen in my life time. With properties built right up to the edge of South Rd, the cost of land acquisition would be too prohibitive for the government to even consider it.

At the risk of repeating myself and others, I just wish they hadn't sold off the corridor between Marion and South Roads...

[Norman]

Speeches from Pat Conlon and Rod Hook:

[rhino]

I heard Pat Conlon on the radio this morning, talking to Matthew Abraham and David Bevan on 891. He made the point that traffic through the underpass is slow because the underpass is still a construction site, and will be for a few weeks yet. While the underpass was being made, traffic used the slip lanes. Now the underpass is open, there is still quite a bit of work to do to bring the slip lanes up to standard, and people have to realise that they are travelling though a construction site and workers' safety is paramount.

Not having been through the underpass yet, I can't make comment on Pat's statements in this regard, but perhaps someone here can give their opinion on them?

[Xaragmata]

I heard Pat Conlon on the radio this morning, talking to Matthew Abraham and David Bevan on 891. He made the point that traffic through the underpass is slow because the underpass is still a construction site, and will be for a few weeks yet. While the underpass was being made, traffic used the slip lanes. Now the underpass is open, there is still quite a bit of work to do to bring the slip lanes up to standard, and people have to realise that they are travelling though a construction site and workers' safety is paramount.

Not having been through the underpass yet, I can't make comment on Pat's statements in this regard, but perhaps someone here can give their opinion on them?

Much what I saw on Sunday, with South Rd closed between Anzac Hwy and near Forest Street, & south bound traffic
from Anzac Hwy diverted to share the western slip lane with north bound traffic. Flag men were halting through traffic
to allow these vehicles to cross South Rd to the correct lanes, & also to let me cross when I got off the tram - I might
still be there if they weren't on duty, the cars were nose to tail. As Pat said, still a construction site, & quite a bit of
work still to be done on the slip from Anzac Hwy to South Rd when I was there.

[edit] I never noticed this in the print edition, but Adelaide Now reports allegations of bullying the Australian Traffic
Network over its reporting of delays in the underpass. On the one hand, delays through a construction site are to be
expected, but on the other hand bullying those who report the delays is unacceptable ...

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html
Bullying accusations over Gallipoli Underpass delays

ADVISERS to Transport Minister Pat Conlon have been accused of bullying a traffic reporting company
over delays at the new Gallipoli Underpass. [...]

[waz94]

Hi Guys,
probably the wrong thread for this but after the Gallipoli Underpass is completed sometime later this year, does anyone know what they have planned next. I know that there are plans to build a tunnel under port/grange roads and also an underpass under Sturt Road, but are these definates or just speculation. As they want a non-stop South road, one would imagine that the next project along South Road would start immediatley after the Gallipoli Underpass is finished, otherwise it will take decades to complete.

Am hoping that by January next year earthmoving equipment is being mobilised to the next site however lets hope that the next project doesnt take over 2 years to complete.

[AtD]

Next is the tram overpass. After that: who knows?

[waz94]

Yeah i understand that the tram overpass is next but this will be completed around the same time as the Gallipoli Underpass. I am more referring to major roadworks.

[rhino]

Didn't the Feds offer some money to construct underpasses at Cormack Road and the freight rail line? That may be next after the tram overpass, simply because it involves Federal money, not State cash.

[Ben]

I beleive all future stages are on hold until the non-stop south rd study has been completed. I'm not sure when this is expected to be.

[Professor]

Yes, what we need is yet another study on south road...

From memory, the tunnel under Port road etc was supposed to commence as soon as this project was finished.

Anyway, there are so many places across Adelaide where a relatively small amount of funds would make a real difference. As a simple example, Richmond road between South and Marion is two lanes all the way, except for a short 300m stretch where is goes back to single lane. With ample land available on each side of teh road, it would be pretty simple to expand it to two lanes both ways.

We seem to make so much out of undertaking minor and major roadworks - other states just get on with it?

[mattblack]

I know there detailed planning which is well under way for the section between the PREW and Grand junction. Probally a fly-over I think which will eliminate a traffic lights and a railway x-ing. Wait until the budget and all will be revealed. Dont forget the nation builing $$$$ that will be allocated by the feds, expect some major announcements.

[crawf]

The Port & Grange Rd tunnel should be made longer than 1km.

Pretty sure the State Government is still planning on upgrading South Road between the new tunnel and Torrens Road. With many homes and businesses along that stretch starting to be demolished.