News & Discussion: Roads & Traffic

[SRW]

I wonder why $13.2 million is allocated to the Goodwood and Torrens Rail Junction Project. I thought these were both complete? Unless we're finally getting the promised overpass for the Mike Turtur Bikeway?

[ralmin]

I wonder why $13.2 million is allocated to the Goodwood and Torrens Rail Junction Project. I thought these were both complete? Unless we're finally getting the promised overpass for the Mike Turtur Bikeway?

It might be for completing the pedestrian level crossing at the Torrens Junction in North Adelaide between War Memorial Drive and John E Brown Park. The project website says it’s planned and in design. https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/torrens-rail-junction

[alexczarn]

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

Perhaps for the Verdun interchange??

[Norman]

It could also be a widening of the South-Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Verdun/Mount Barker. That section of the freeway can be congested in peak hour as far as I am aware.

[SRW]

Put in bus lanes then.

[Patrick_27]

It could also be a widening of the South-Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Verdun/Mount Barker. That section of the freeway can be congested in peak hour as far as I am aware.

I suspect it is this and putting in a Hahndorf exit on the city bound lanes.

[Eurostar]

Put in bus lanes then.

I'd rather a heavy vehicle lane which buses and trucks could use

[1NEEDS2POST]

Put in bus lanes then.

Since the freeway is grade separated, we may as well make it an O-Bahn track. This idea has been discussed before: https://www.sensational-adelaide.com/fo ... =17&t=6340

It's actually a really good idea. According to one source (which I can't verify, but sounds plausible), O-Bahn track is rated to 165 km/h. This would be a huge improvement on the current bus route and O-Bahn track is cheap. Electric buses can use very powerful motors, so if diesel buses cannot go that fast, electric buses can.

[rev]

Major metro roads earmarked for road fixes as state taps into federal funding
Matt Smith, The Advertiser
October 21, 2020 11:14am
Subscriber only

Shovel ready projects will be fast tracked with help from $100 million of new money to be announced in next month’s Budget, the State Government has promised.

Premier Steven Marshall and Infrastructure Minster Corey Wingard have this morning unveiled the government’s first pre-Budget announcement.

New funding, worth $58 million, will be dedicated to metropolitan fixes for some of Adelaide’s busiest and most pothole, and sunken manhole laden roads.

A further $42 million will be announced to help unlock what Mr Marshall described as the Federal Government’s ‘use it or lose it’ promise of funding for states and territories that chipped in to help unlock a $2 billion road maintenance fund.

By committing $42 million the State Government will unlock $168 million in Federal funding that is expected to be used within 18 months to help with the nation’s economic recovery from COVID.

Metropolitan roads to be upgraded include

Port Road – Grand Junction Road to East Ave ($9 million)

Fullarton Road – Glen Osmond Road to Carrick Hill and Rundle St to The Parade ($6 million)

Marion Road – Richmond Road to Anzac Highway and Henley Beach Road to Sir Donald

Bradman Drive ($5.5 million)

Anzac Highway – Marion Road to Morphett Road ($3.5 million)

Projects to be fast tracked using the funding leveraging and including the Federal funding are still be announced.

Mr Marshall said the stimulus was vital as the state continues to navigate through the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“South Australia is facing its most challenging economic period in living memory and investing in projects that will get people into jobs sooner will keep our economy firing during this extremely difficult time,” Premier Marshall said.

“This is another part of our plan to keep South Australia safe and strong, by creating jobs, backing

business and building what matters.”

Mr Wingard, said some of these projects will start soon.

“We have a series of high priority roads we want to start work on as soon as possible to bust

congestion and deliver safety benefits for South Australian motorists,” Minister Wingard said.

“Some of these works are expected to commence within weeks and while road works can be a

hassle it’s important to remember that it means jobs for South Australians.”

The State Government have come under fire in recent months for not delivering on road projects, including new proposals, quickly enough.

This week documents prepared for Cabinet, leaked to the Opposition, showed potential blow outs in time frames until 2033 for the state’s largest ever road project – the North South corridor – that has raised the ire of residents.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... 679214f4da

[Waewick]

How is Grenfell Street not ready? It's like 2 irrigation furrows

Sent from my SM-A530F using Tapatalk

[eKwatee]

Property acquisitions in major intersection upgrade

The Transport Department is embarking on a $35 million upgrade of the intersection of Glen Osmond and Fullarton roads, with a spokesperson telling InDaily two commercial properties are expected to be fully acquired, while up to another 18 will have “partial acquisitions”.

from indaily, see article: https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2021/ ... n-upgrade/

[ChillyPhilly]

Property acquisitions in major intersection upgrade

The Transport Department is embarking on a $35 million upgrade of the intersection of Glen Osmond and Fullarton roads, with a spokesperson telling InDaily two commercial properties are expected to be fully acquired, while up to another 18 will have “partial acquisitions”.

from indaily, see article: https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2021/ ... n-upgrade/

What's with these projects adding a pointless third lane?

[SBD]

Property acquisitions in major intersection upgrade

The Transport Department is embarking on a $35 million upgrade of the intersection of Glen Osmond and Fullarton roads, with a spokesperson telling InDaily two commercial properties are expected to be fully acquired, while up to another 18 will have “partial acquisitions”.

from indaily, see article: https://indaily.com.au/news/local/2021/ ... n-upgrade/

What's with these projects adding a pointless third lane?

I guess it adds 50% to the number of vehicles that get through the intersection in the same length green-light cycle.

[Spotto]

Put in bus lanes then.

Since the freeway is grade separated, we may as well make it an O-Bahn track. This idea has been discussed before: https://www.sensational-adelaide.com/fo ... =17&t=6340

It's actually a really good idea. According to one source (which I can't verify, but sounds plausible), O-Bahn track is rated to 165 km/h. This would be a huge improvement on the current bus route and O-Bahn track is cheap. Electric buses can use very powerful motors, so if diesel buses cannot go that fast, electric buses can.

The current O-Bahn is over 30 years old and the ride quality shows it; as a result speed has been reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h. Buses also need to be specially modified with guide wheels to run on the tracks and the width of modern buses has been an issue in the past with tyre walls scraping on the concrete tracks causing faster-than-normal wear. You also can't simply resurface the O-Bahn like you do a normal road when it needs repairing.

It's definitely been successful, is popular with commuters, massively cuts travel time and has its advantages over rail, but if it's that unbelievably wonderful why did we stop at building only one?

Honestly, I think when the time comes to renew the O-Bahn they'll replace it with a more conventional unguided busway. The deep piles are already in the ground I presume it would be a case of removing the concrete sleepers and tracks and replacing them with a flat deck to lay pavement onto. A conventional busway would be more compatible with our bus fleet, not require special modifications to buses, and be easier to maintain and repair.

[rubberman]

Put in bus lanes then.

Since the freeway is grade separated, we may as well make it an O-Bahn track. This idea has been discussed before: https://www.sensational-adelaide.com/fo ... =17&t=6340

It's actually a really good idea. According to one source (which I can't verify, but sounds plausible), O-Bahn track is rated to 165 km/h. This would be a huge improvement on the current bus route and O-Bahn track is cheap. Electric buses can use very powerful motors, so if diesel buses cannot go that fast, electric buses can.

The current O-Bahn is over 30 years old and the ride quality shows it; as a result speed has been reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h. Buses also need to be specially modified with guide wheels to run on the tracks and the width of modern buses has been an issue in the past with tyre walls scraping on the concrete tracks causing faster-than-normal wear. You also can't simply resurface the O-Bahn like you do a normal road when it needs repairing.

It's definitely been successful, is popular with commuters, massively cuts travel time and has its advantages over rail, but if it's that unbelievably wonderful why did we stop at building only one?

Honestly, I think when the time comes to renew the O-Bahn they'll replace it with a more conventional unguided busway. The deep piles are already in the ground I presume it would be a case of removing the concrete sleepers and tracks and replacing them with a flat deck to lay pavement onto. A conventional busway would be more compatible with our bus fleet, not require special modifications to buses, and be easier to maintain and repair.

Funnily enough, this is the perfect use for so-called trackless trams which are really just guided buses. Put the guide strips in the middle, and let the computers do the job of steering instead of those little wheels.

The O-Bahn is over 40 years old. It's not unreasonable to expect a major renovation program.

I'd also ask if it's ok for buses to do 100kph on reserved track, why doesn't the State Government target trams and trains with similar speeds?