[U/C] M2 North-South Motorway

[ChillyPhilly]

Wow, surprised how much property has been demolished along South Road for Torrens to Torrens. Looks like acquisition is complete. Saw surveyors doing something in the empty block opposite Gaganis too.

[jase111]

Just went along south road from super way to Henley beach road after torrens to torrens is finished in 2018 there will still be 7 traffic lights from ashwin parade to super way .2 pedestrian and five traffic would it not be a idea to have a pedestrian overpass linked to shopping centre with the money saved from not moving sub station and shorter rail bridge ? And or finishing lowered road past ped lights . Also the BBQ galore site now gone what is the future of the paving retailer on south road on the pir still there after the bridge when project is complete . This project is sorely needed but torrens to torrens it is not only 1.4 km of lowered road and still have to come back after and do hawker and torrens road and ashwin parade to the start of lowered road

[SBD]

Looks better than the previous proposal, for the most part. I do have a few issues though:

• Despite the revised intersection, no way to cross South Rd from Hawker St to Hurtle Street or vice versa (only left & right turns onto South Rd from either)
• Don't agree with the shortened rail overpass. Would have been great to remove the Elizabeth St/Queen St level crossing, and keep the previous suggestion of an additional row of shops underneath the tracks.
• The pedestrian/cycling path alongside the rail overpass looks ridiculous. Looong ramps with multiple switchbacks. It'll be a big sign to pedestrians and cyclists "don't bother",
• Does the at-grade South Rd really still need to be 2+ lanes each way? Surely with 3 lanes each way through the trench, the at-grade road only needs 1 lane each way to provide local access (splitting to turn lanes just for the Port Rd intersection)

The Project Assessment Report states lots of times that it will "improve cycling facilities and therefore cyclists safety" and similar phrases. There is little evidence in the report that it does this for people wishing to travel north or south rather than east or west.

Page 25 says "The number of cyclists and pedestrians currently using South Road is relatively small." I'm not convinced this is a good justification to make them continue to play in the traffic instead of at least a painted bike lane with buffer line.

The table on pages 163-165 suggests that the precincts near the project all have higher than average percentages of people travel to work by bicycle, some areas significantly above.

It stands out in the flythrough simulation that there are cyclists modelled riding sedately along south road in both directions. The northbound side is clearly in view for most of the animation. Next to the trench, the surface road is a bike lane plus two other lanes. As it approaches the ramp up from the trench, it narrows to just one lane (no bike lane), and there is no separate bike lane until after the left turn lanes diverge to Torrens Road. At least one simulated cyclist receives a very close pass from a car.

[ChillyPhilly]

Very well said and well done picking out those statements, SBD.

I'm still scratching my head at the proposed pedestrian crossing at the northern end of the trench.

[rockthenation]

Just went along south road from super way to Henley beach road after torrens to torrens is finished in 2018 there will still be 7 traffic lights from ashwin parade to super way .2 pedestrian and five traffic would it not be a idea to have a pedestrian overpass linked to shopping centre with the money saved from not moving sub station and shorter rail bridge ? And or finishing lowered road past ped lights . Also the BBQ galore site now gone what is the future of the paving retailer on south road on the pir still there after the bridge when project is complete . This project is sorely needed but torrens to torrens it is not only 1.4 km of lowered road and still have to come back after and do hawker and torrens road and ashwin parade to the start of lowered road

For mine, the paving centre and the houses next to the river have to go, it's ridiculous the road from Ashwin Parade will go from 3 lanes and narrow back into 2 lanes just before the underpass! If $30 million is saved from not moving the electrical station, then surely those properties can be acquired.

[drsmith]

For mine, the paving centre and the houses next to the river have to go, it's ridiculous the road from Ashwin Parade will go from 3 lanes and narrow back into 2 lanes just before the underpass! If $30 million is saved from not moving the electrical station, then surely those properties can be acquired.

That depends on how much the original project was blowing out from the budget.

[Benski81]

Just saw this on Facebook, they're holding an information day this Saturday at the site office.

[ChillyPhilly]

DPTI also posted this.

Early works on the North-South Corridor Torrens-to-Torrens project are set to commence in August.

It was announced today that the $6.8 million contract was awarded to local firm Bardavcol Pty Ltd to upgrade the South Road/Ashwin Parade intersection.

Upgrades to South Road and Ashwin Parade will significantly improve the safety and efficiency of the intersection.

The works – which will see around 39 jobs supported – will include widening of South Road at the intersection with Ashwin Parade and West Thebarton Road, and provide additional through and turning lanes on South Road and Ashwin Parade to improve road capacity and reduce delays.

On completion of this project and the Torrens Road to River Torrens upgrade, along with reduced delays to drivers who use it the South Road/Ashwin Parade intersection will allow improved traffic movement into the upgraded South Road.

It is expected that the works will occur during the day and night with most activity planned at night to minimise disruption to the local community and delays to South Road and Ashwin Parade road users.

The works are expected to be completed by April 2015, weather permitting.

For more information please visit:
http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/sou ... er_torrens

[mawsonguy]

I went to the open day. I asked one of the DPTI workers how much to extend the lowered road under Hawker St. He replied "I wouldn't like to say although the preferred option is to extend it under Torrens Road". So I asked how much to extend it under Torrens Road. He replied "I wouldn't like to say". I asked him if any of the mooted "enhancements" to be paid with the savings from not relocating the electricity sub-station included extending the lowered road. He replied "we're looking into that with the contractors". I got the distinct impression that he had been told to avoid answering these very questions. They did a multi-million dollar study on this project. They know exactly (give or take a million) how much it costs.

[victorious80]

You would be exactly right. DPTI will be starting tender negotiations with interested parties soon, so they are not able to say anything regarding $$$$ for fear of compromising the negotiations (who is to say you were not working for one of the interested parties )

Additionally, the main contract for this project is not scheduled to be let until later this year. Until that happens, all cost estimates are just that....estimates. Once the head contractor is engaged they will be able to confirm real costs and identify any scope for additional work within the budget.

[Relead]

Not sure if this has been posted yet but will post anyway!

Darlington upgrade- http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/sou ... de_project

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ooPkANtoHc8

[Aidan]

Meanwhile I'm finally about to finish my South Road plan. I'm still working on the interactive web based version, but the main document is essentially complete. Before I officially release it, I'd appreciate knowing people's opinions of it, and in particular any errors that you may find.

The pre release version can be found at
http://members.iinet.net.au/~stang_a/Tr ... adPlan.pdf
WARNING: VERY BIG FILE (over 64MB because it contains a lot of high resolution graphics)

A slighly smaller (48.5MB) version in .doc format can be downloaded from
http://members.iinet.net.au/~stang_a/Tr ... adPlan.doc

[ChillyPhilly]

I'll give it a suss later tonight; look forward to reading it.

EDIT: Been reading it intently at 1.30am, already a huge fan at Page 15.

[drsmith]

I know it's not a 100% comparison but I'm trying to imagine how visionary it would seen now in Perth if the north/south Freeway corridor or the Northbridge tunnel here had been built to an ultimate design of two free-flowing lanes in each direction.

[claybro]

Have to agree with Dr Smith. I now reside permanently in Perth. By my observation, the freeways cope well for 95% of the time, but had they been designed for only 2 lanes in either direction, or no freeways/tunnels at all, the local road network would not cope. Perth like adelaide has an extensive network of wide arterial roads, which compliment the freeways, and an expanding train network, fed by buses. The system here is not perfect, and unfortunately,spending billions on public transport does not serve everyones needs, but had Adelaide had the good fortune to grow by half a million people in 10 years it would be complete gridlock by now. Yet it would seem over in Adelaide there is still so much angst and hand wringing over just one North/South arterial freeway, let alone the ring routes required. Having on many occaisions to drive south of Perth, the trip here is a dream outside of peak period, and to contemplate a similar journey in Adelaide.....well the ease of getting around is one of the main reasons I have moved.