[U/C] M2 North-South Motorway

[[Shuz]]

But only at 80kph so it's not really a real motorway/freeway. It's a very expensive, glorified arterial road at best.

[Patrick_27]

But only at 80kph so it's not really a real motorway/freeway. It's a very expensive, glorified arterial road at best.

I'm surprised that it's not going to be 90kph given the remainder of the completed sections of the north-south corridor are set at this speed.

There's a whole list of reasons why this corridor doesn't and won't qualify as a motorway, whilst sections such as the Northern Connector are motorway-grade, the Southern Expressway and Northern Expressway don't even come close to making the cut, I don't even think the length of their entry and exit lanes meet the required standard for a freeway. Begs the question, when this corridor is complete, with it exist with one name or a variety of names that reflect the standard of the section of road, seeing as sections will only be of a b-grade/expressway-grade road whilst others will be of am motorway-grade.

[SouthAussie94]

But only at 80kph so it's not really a real motorway/freeway. It's a very expensive, glorified arterial road at best.

I'm surprised that it's not going to be 90kph given the remainder of the completed sections of the north-south corridor are set at this speed.

The section between The Brickworks and Coopers is 80kph, as is the section through Darlington.

The Superway is 90.

The Northern Connector and Expressway at both 110.

[Mpol02]

Thank you wonderful stuff

[Spotto]

But only at 80kph so it's not really a real motorway/freeway. It's a very expensive, glorified arterial road at best.

I'm surprised that it's not going to be 90kph given the remainder of the completed sections of the north-south corridor are set at this speed.

The section between The Brickworks and Coopers is 80kph, as is the section through Darlington.

The Superway is 90.

The Northern Connector and Expressway at both 110.

I don’t imagine the 80kmh section around Darlington will ever change, with the steep downhill approach south of Majors Road, then all the on/off ramps and merging that happens in the trench.

[ChillyPhilly]

But only at 80kph so it's not really a real motorway/freeway. It's a very expensive, glorified arterial road at best.

I'm surprised that it's not going to be 90kph given the remainder of the completed sections of the north-south corridor are set at this speed.

There's a whole list of reasons why this corridor doesn't and won't qualify as a motorway, whilst sections such as the Northern Connector are motorway-grade, the Southern Expressway and Northern Expressway don't even come close to making the cut, I don't even think the length of their entry and exit lanes meet the required standard for a freeway. Begs the question, when this corridor is complete, with it exist with one name or a variety of names that reflect the standard of the section of road, seeing as sections will only be of a b-grade/expressway-grade road whilst others will be of am motorway-grade.

My understanding of a 'freeway standard' road:

- At least two lanes in either direction
- Zero at-grade intersections or crossings
- No driveway crossovers
- A solid median or divider/barrier.

When I first learnt of the above years ago, I don't recall there being any requirement regarding length of entry/exit lanes. Happy to be corrected and updated.

As for the speed of the completed T2D, it'll definitely be 80kmh, but the design speed is 90kmh. The case is the same for the Superway (posted speed limit of 90, design speed of 100).

[Norman]

I don't see how the 80km/h speed limit makes it any less of a freeway or motorway. Every tunnel in Australia has a speed limit of 80km/h, including CityLink in Melbourne, the M5 in Sydney and the Clem Jones tunnel in Brisbane. Even in Germany the tunnels of the Autobahn are limited to 80km/h.

[Nort]

It makes good sense to not have intermittent 100 sections repeatedly speeding up and slowing down, since as Norman mentions it's standard for tunnels to have an 80 speed limit. With the Connector and Expressway being 110 I doubt the speed difference would change times much anyway.

It's around 25km from the Northern Connector to the Southern Expressway.

At 100kmh that would take 15 minutes. At an average speed of 80kmh it would take 19 minutes.

A grand total of 4 minutes shaved off from Gawler to Noarlunga trip times wouldn't be worth the significant extra cost to make the whole route 100kmh.

(Probably closer to 3 minutes difference once you account for the Superway section being 90)

[rhino]

Correct. Torrens to Darlington will be the final link in the North-South Motorway, and the overall North-South Corridor from Gawler to Noarlunga.

Can someone please tell me why it's always "Noarlunga to Gawler", when the controlled access road actually goes (almost) all the way to Nuriootpa?

[Spotto]

Correct. Torrens to Darlington will be the final link in the North-South Motorway, and the overall North-South Corridor from Gawler to Noarlunga.

Can someone please tell me why it's always "Noarlunga to Gawler", when the controlled access road actually goes (almost) all the way to Nuriootpa?

It’s true that the dual carriageway continues north to Nuriootpa and south to Aldinga (soon further to Sellicks Beach). But there are also many intersections and turning points on those parts of the road; a limited access road.

The Gawler to Noarlunga portion is the only one that will be a fully grade-separated, controlled access road.

[Bobski]

Another angle of the Don Bradman/James Congdon works, 17/05




Video here of the plan for this intersection:

[alexczarn]

A change to the Anzac Hway interchange.
Got this email just then.

[alexczarn]

As above.

[Spotto]

Looks like a positive change to keep traffic flowing

[Bobski]

More aesthetically pleasing than the original concept IMO.