Airport transport access (split from news thread)

[Verbatim9]

Instead of turning right into Marion Road and left onto Sir Don, could the tram not continue toward the airport along the Western end of Richmond Road, enter the airport property and travel immediately North around the perimeter of the airport? They could contruct a nice landscaped corridor along the line similar to the gardens lining the runways in Singapore Changi. Would save problems at the intersection of Marion and Sir Don, and also would leave the airport access road free. Richmond Road would need some major beutification though, if it would act as our main gateway by PT. This route would act as a catalist for some redevelopement of Richmond road anyway.

Sounds like a plan

[Norman]

Would think that there might be some issues with poles and height clearance if it was to go onto the airport grounds.

[claybro]

Looking at a satelite image of this part of the airport, there is room for this route along the rear fences of the housing abutting the airport. Overhead cables for the light rail would not be above the roof line of these existing buildings. Would probably require piping the open culvert that runs along the Eastern boundary. The rail could run on top of that drain and then along the rear of the properties on Lyon Street before turning into the airport complex.

[Verbatim9]

Some kind of cut and cover tunnels maybe necessary in some sections. Cut and cover tunnelling in far more cost effective then driven tunnel and can speed up travel times. Also would address the height of the electric cables as then the electric cabling can be fastened to the ceiling of the tunnel

Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel

http://publictransport.about.com/od/Glo ... uction.htm

In "cut and cover" tunneling, the pavement of the street is removed, a hole for the subway and stations is dug, and then the street is restored. The "cut and cover" method is much cheaper than "deep bore" but the alignment is restricted to the street grid.

[claybro]

Some kind of cut and cover tunnels maybe necessary in some sections. Cut and cover tunnelling in far more cost effective then driven tunnel and can speed up travel times. Also would address the height of the electric cables as then the electric cabling can be fastened to the ceiling of the tunnel

Might be a problem with flooding. The clvert that is visible on the Eastern perimeter of the airport s prone to flooding even in moderate rains. This back area of the airport has a large warehouse structure in Morley Street adjacent to this boundary the closest point of the track to the runway would be adjacent to this warehouse at the end of Britton Street, and the house roofs in Lyons Street dont seem to cause any clearance issues. Tram power wires are not as high as the roofs on these structures provided they are strung from side poles.

[Verbatim9]

If its a covered tunnel I think the flooding would be minimal or nothing. Plus there is such things called drains and flood pumps in which they install in Tunnels to overcome flooding.

[tanner1987]

claybro, I agree with you on continuing the tram line down Richmond Rd onto the airport property, as outlined in the Airport's Master Plan. It would be cheaper and cause less onconvenience to vehicle traffic.

http://www.adelaideairport.com.au/asset ... ec2009.pdf

Scroll down to page 10.

Also, wouldn't it be shorter(and cheaper) to join the line to the existing tram line via South Terrace or Greenhill Rd onto Peacock Rd, instead of along West Tce to North Tce? It could even travel through the Veale Gardens beside the road to avoid traffic disruption.(Plus it would go past my house )

[claybro]

Richmond onto Greenhill Road to existing tramline would work well as it would link all the businesses along the south of GH Rd, to the CBD. and also the airport.Think also of the potential for ugrading Richmond Road. At present it is a bit of a mess. Some low rise appartments, additional shops cafes landscaped verges etc, would become quite cosmopolitan. Also as it is currently light industrial/storage/commercial, we would not get the cries from the NIMBY'S about increased density along here.