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

[muzzamo]

I recall Pat Conlon saying that he will not support tolls on SA roads. But pollies can change their minds (e.g. Melbourne's Eastlink).

Eventually we will have a choice beteween tolls and gridlock.

Its a shame that it isn't really possible for governments to borrow the money and then pay back the money through tolls, the opposition of the time will always propose removal of tolls or tinkering with tolls in order to try and win government.

[drsmith]

With regard to tolls I suspect the Northern Connector with it's proposed 8-lanes will be richer pickings for any private funding than anything along South Road.

EDIT:
Come to think of it if the road component of the proposed Northern Connector was to include private funding, tolling rights for the South Road Superway could be sold for part or all of that private funding.

The vicinity of Wingfield railway line would be an ideal location for a toll gantry on the viaduct.

[ChillyPhilly]

My first post in a long time...

I'm still forming my opinions about the proposed South Road 'superway'. While it will no doubt get something achieved, in the long term certain aspects of the project may be somewhat neglected slightly. For example, what would become of the Grand Junction Road intersection? Will it be a new bottleneck, with one traffic light intersection replaced by two? Or will it be something different?

There are a lot of questions I wish I could find the answers for.

Unless somebody else knows them...

[Aidan]

My first post in a long time...

I'm still forming my opinions about the proposed South Road 'superway'. While it will no doubt get something achieved, in the long term certain aspects of the project may be somewhat neglected slightly. For example, what would become of the Grand Junction Road intersection? Will it be a new bottleneck, with one traffic light intersection replaced by two? Or will it be something different?

There are a lot of questions I wish I could find the answers for.

Unless somebody else knows them...

Replacing a single signalized intersection with a double one wouldn't make it a bottleneck, as the phases of the lights would be synchronized. Indeed the reduction in through traffic on South Road using the intersection will mean that more green time could be given to Grand Junction Road.

[DM8]

Aidan's right - there's really only going to be red lights for through traffic on Grand Junction Road for people turning right (left turns can be accommodated with slip lanes), and for pedestrians crossing G.J. Rd at that point (I wouldn't have thought this would be a great number - anyone know?) . Although, it will be interesting to see what happens as far as synchronised traffic lights go, as I've found they seem to be a rarity in Adelaide (the only set that comes to mind is on Unley Road - Oxford Tce and Arthur St - out the front of Unley Shopping Centre).

[Aidan]

Aidan's right - there's really only going to be red lights for through traffic on Grand Junction Road for people turning right (left turns can be accommodated with slip lanes), and for pedestrians crossing G.J. Rd at that point (I wouldn't have thought this would be a great number - anyone know?) .

There will still be some traffic on the surface part of South Road.

Although, it will be interesting to see what happens as far as synchronised traffic lights go, as I've found they seem to be a rarity in Adelaide (the only set that comes to mind is on Unley Road - Oxford Tce and Arthur St - out the front of Unley Shopping Centre).

Apart from the new ones each side of the Gallipoli Underpass, there's some on Brighton Road (Junctions of Oaklands Road and a less important street whose name escapes me). I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any right now.

[drsmith]

With grade seperation of South Road at Grand Junction Road my initial thought was that the number of signal phases for all remaining traffic movements at the intersection would be reduced from 4 to 3 as would be typical with a standard diamond interchange. There is however local business accesses on the ramps that connect the viaduct to Grand Junction Road itself so for this reason I suspect a 4th signal phase (across Grand Junction Road) will be retained.

[Westside]

Although, it will be interesting to see what happens as far as synchronised traffic lights go, as I've found they seem to be a rarity in Adelaide (the only set that comes to mind is on Unley Road - Oxford Tce and Arthur St - out the front of Unley Shopping Centre).

Apart from the new ones each side of the Gallipoli Underpass, there's some on Brighton Road (Junctions of Oaklands Road and a less important street whose name escapes me). I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any right now.

They're not really that rare - try all of Port Rd, Holbrooks and East Ave on Grange Rd, Under Morphett St Bridge on North Tce, the list goes on!

These signals, if programmed correctly, will give greater flows to Grand Junction Rd as the majority of South Rd traffic is removed from the intersection.

[ChillyPhilly]

Although, it will be interesting to see what happens as far as synchronised traffic lights go, as I've found they seem to be a rarity in Adelaide (the only set that comes to mind is on Unley Road - Oxford Tce and Arthur St - out the front of Unley Shopping Centre).

Apart from the new ones each side of the Gallipoli Underpass, there's some on Brighton Road (Junctions of Oaklands Road and a less important street whose name escapes me). I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any right now.

They're not really that rare - try all of Port Rd, Holbrooks and East Ave on Grange Rd, Under Morphett St Bridge on North Tce, the list goes on!

These signals, if programmed correctly, will give greater flows to Grand Junction Rd as the majority of South Rd traffic is removed from the intersection.

Are you sure about Port Road? Often when I head down that way - and I've lived near the road most of my life, bar my first four years - and rartely if ever seems synchronised. I could be wrong, but I doubt that.

[AG]

Are you sure about Port Road? Often when I head down that way - and I've lived near the road most of my life, bar my first four years - and rartely if ever seems synchronised. I could be wrong, but I doubt that.

He isn't referring to intersections along the length of Port Road being synchronised with each other, he's talking about roads that intersect both halves of Port Road having lights being synchronised (intersecting the north-western bound lanes and the south-eastern bound lanes).

[fabricator]

Two truck mounted drilling machines doing test bores on South Road between Grand Junction Road and the rail line. Soil testing has started.

[mattblack]

Two truck mounted drilling machines doing test bores on South Road between Grand Junction Road and the rail line. Soil testing has started.

They've been there for the past month, just after the announcment. Seems to be going along nicely.

[ChillyPhilly]

I'm not sure if this website has been posted on the Infrastructure/Transport Development Board previously, but it's more recent than the satellite imagery on Google Earth.

http://www.nearmap.com

It also shows the Northern Expressway as of 29 October.

[DM8]

Awesome find, thanks for that! NEXY sure is making its mark.

Also gives me another way of seeing the changes I'll need to navigate on the Westgate Freeway next month

[rhino]

That is an awesome site for imagery! Thanks for the link!