South Road Upgrade (Torrens Road to River Torrens) Project Report Introduction What is this report? This document has been prepared to provide an overview of the findings of the South Road Planning Study to upgrade the section from Torrens Road to the River Torrens. The planning study has investigated a broad range of possible options. It has developed and assessed a concept design for the preferred option for this project as the next step in delivering Adelaide’s non‐stop north‐south corridor. This document is intended to inform residents, property owners and businesses, along with the general public, of the State Government’s plans for this significant piece of transport infrastructure. If you have further questions after reading this document, please contact the South Road Planning Study Team via the contact details provided on the last page of this booklet. Why does Adelaide need a North‐South Corridor? Through its Seven Strategic Priorities the South Australian Government has detailed its economic, social and environmental goals. They include creating a vibrant city, safe communities and healthy neighbourhoods, affordable places to live and growing advanced manufacturing. The transport system plays a critical role in achieving these goals. Adelaide’s transport system is, however, facing major challenges over the next 30 years, the most critical of these being the provision of safe and efficient transport options for Adelaide’s residents and businesses. Due to the projected growth of South Australia’s North‐South Corridor economy and population, additional demands will be placed on infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure. South Road is part of the National Land Transport Network through urban Adelaide and is the major north‐south traffic and freight route through Adelaide’s west. Its upgrading is a major element of the strategy to address these anticipated future needs. South Road is a four‐lane, two‐way arterial road with 28 sets of traffic signals over a length of approximately 23 kilometres. In its current configuration, South Road does not adequately Existing South Road provide for the volume of traffic, nor does it provide for the size of vehicles required to use this route, While it is important to create a more compact city both now and into the future. Average travel speeds and to reduce car reliance (both key features of the on almost all sections of South Road are well below 30‐Year Plan for Greater Adelaide) it will also be the posted speed limit (60km/h) throughout the day. critical to develop important transport corridors to better connect people across Adelaide. Such Travel speed variability, which is a measure of how corridors will also strengthen local businesses much speeds change from one trip to the next, is also making them more internationally competitive with relatively high in comparison to benchmarked efficient freight transport for their products to national performance indicators. Drivers travelling on access markets. South Road during business hours are experiencing above average delays and in some cases very long Contained within the 30‐Year Plan for Greater delays. Adelaide is a set of targets and outcomes for each of the eight regions covered. The section of South Road Traffic congestion and unreliable travel times for that is subject of this study is primarily contained traffic using South Road impacts on business costs, within the area designated in the 30‐Year Plan as productivity and output. Traffic congestion is not “Western Adelaide”. For Western Adelaide, key limited to South Road, but is also experienced on growth targets are 42,560 net additional dwellings, parallel routes such as Marion and Goodwood Roads. 83,000 net additional population and 40,500 net additional jobs. Key elements of this plan include the proposed transport oriented development (TOD) at Bowden, significant areas for regeneration within inner western Adelaide, retention of key industry areas including Regency Park, Devon/Dudley Parks, Mile End/Mile End South and Thebarton, and a specialist centre at Thebarton focussed on bioscience and emerging technologies. An improved north‐south corridor will assist in Existing South Road delivering the State's land use goals by serving the growth of commercial and residential lands to the north and giving residents to the south of Adelaide better access to jobs and services. East‐west travel in western Adelaide is also The bus network is also being improved with impacted by South Road as it often takes dedicated bus lanes into and through the city. considerable time to cross at intersections. This makes the provision of fast and reliable public Cycling and walking also have roles to play in transport services on east‐west arterial roads more reducing pressure on the road network and the State difficult. Government, in some cases in partnership with Local Government, has progressed with development of Periodic maintenance and repair of water mains, off‐road shared paths (known as Greenways) and sewers, storm water drains, electricity, gas and improvements to on‐road cycling lanes to provide telecommunications services has a significant better connectivity for cyclists. impact on South Road traffic. These activities can contribute to unexpected congestion, delays and But even with high levels of public transport use and the increased probability of associated incidents. increased cycling and walking, the road network will still continue to be in high demand for freight traffic South Road provides road frontage and accessibility and longer distance personal travel. Without to adjacent residential, commercial and industrial improvement to the current road transport of goods areas along its length. This, along with the provision and services will be more costly and ease of access to of many right turn exit points and insufficient opportunities across Adelaide will be limited. protected right turn bays, create traffic conflict points that increase the risk of crashes. This is why, in partnership with the Australian Government, the State Government continues its The section of South Road from Torrens Road to the planning of a non‐stop north‐south transport River Torrens has a crash rate 1.5 to 2 times higher corridor. than other arterial roads in western Adelaide. The Torrens Road / South Road intersection had the highest rate of casualty crashes of any intersection in South Australia over the five year period ending December 2012. The Intersections at South Road / Port Road and South Road / Grange Road had the 15th and 16th highest rate over that period. Narrow road widths through some sections of South Road increases the risk of larger vehicles colliding with oncoming vehicles or roadside objects (such as high voltage power poles). One way to reduce pressure on the road network is Gallipoli Underpass to have more people using the public transport system and, to this extent, the State Government is continuing with the largest ever investment in public transport in South Australia. By electrifying the rail system, converting to a new ticketing system, upgrading stations and increasing the frequency of rail services, the State Government will be providing a more modern and reliable rail system for the public to utilise and enjoy. The South Road Superway project was next, based on a high level of delay at the intersections of South Road with Grand Junction Road, Cormack Road and the interstate freight rail line. That project was considered a high priority due to the high volumes of freight relying on South Road for access to the commercial/industrial area of Regency Park. This is where the proportion of commercial vehicles using South Road is the highest, accounting for 16% Glenelg Tram Overpass of all traffic. These vehicles include the largest combination truck trailers, including B‐doubles and Why Torrens Road to River Torrens is the next double Road Trains mixing with all other traffic. priority Everyone’s experience of driving along or trying to cross South Road is different depending on their direction of travel the time of day, the type of vehicle they are in and the reason for their journey. Since first announcing the intention to create a non‐ stop South Road, the State Government has been progressively determining the best way in which this can be achieved, what needs to be done when and how long it will take. South Road Superway under construction The priority setting for projects to upgrade South Road has continually been based on traffic analysis, using detailed transport models to develop robust business cases for assessment by funding bodies (i.e. State or Commonwealth Governments). The priorities for constructing projects along South Road have, to date, been guided by the location of the most significant bottlenecks that cause the greatest delays to north‐south and intersecting traffic . South Road Superway under construction Based on this approach, the Gallipoli Underpass at Planning efforts were then directed towards Anzac Highway and the Glenelg Tram Overpass Darlington where long delays were being recorded at were the first components of the non‐stop South Sturt Road. This work formed the basis of the Road to be constructed. Darlington Transport Study which also proposed significant public transport infrastructure to help ease commuter traffic demand. The business case developed and submitted to the Australian Government was strong, showing a good economic benefit (Benefit to Cost Ratio of 2.4) and a cost to construct this project (2014‐15 to 2018‐19) of $896 million. Planning study process The South Road Planning Study team has followed a Artist impression of Darlington Transport Study structured process to determine the way in which a non‐stop road could be developed through a highly In February 2011, Australian Government funding urbanised sector of Adelaide’s west, with the intention made possible a major planning study of alignment of retaining the unique character of the area and not options for the non‐stop South Road.