Adelaide commuters are advised to prepare for significant disruptions as upgrades kick off on the city’s tram network and several major roads starting this weekend. The RAA has issued a guidance advising travellers to adjust their plans accordingly to manage the expected delays and route changes.
The Glenelg tram line will experience a six-month shutdown from South Terrace to Glenelg starting from August 4th 2025, with an entire network closure scheduled for the weekend of August 2nd to 3rd. South Road will see a full closure from Aroha Terrace, Black Forest to Wellington Street, Glandore, from the evening of August 8th until the early morning of August 11th.
These closures form part of the comprehensive Tram Grade Separation Projects aimed at eliminating three congested level crossings located along Marion Road, Cross Road (Plympton), and Morphett Road. Designed to make smoother traffic flow and improve the overall travel safety, the projects will introduce new tram overpasses.
The existing tram overpass at South Road, Glandore, will undergo reconstruction. This is in line with the North-South Corridor T2D Project. Upgrades are also expected for the intersections at Marion Road with Cross Road and Anzac Highway.
Additional closures during this period will affect various parts of the tram network and intersecting main roads. The entire tram network will close for two days in early August. Closures on South Road, Marion Road, Cross Road, and Morphett Road will occur mainly during nighttime hours to minimise daytime traffic disruptions. The Mike Turtur Bikeway will also face closures at several points from August 2025 to early 2026, with detours provided.
To compensate for the tram line closures, substitute bus services will be operational. These buses will connect with trams at the South Terrace stop and are set to run at intervals mirroring the usual tram frequency, including a heightened service rate of every five minutes during peak weekday periods.
Charles Mountain, RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure, shared, “RAA has long advocated for a grade separation of the tram crossing at Marion Road and Cross Road and we welcome the progress being made on this project.
“Approximately 50,000 vehicles pass through the Marion Road and Cross Road level crossings each day and during the morning and afternoon peak periods, we also see around 30 trams passing through.
“Around 26,600 vehicles also pass through the Morphett Road Level Crossing each day, with many motorists often experiencing congestion and variable travel times during peak morning and afternoon periods.
“RAA studies have found that traffic on Marion Road had a red light due to trams or the Mike Turtur Bikeway about 30 per cent of the time during the morning peak (7am-9am) – or about 36 minutes of the two-hour period.
“These infrastructure upgrades will provide accessible tram stops with improved pedestrian access, while reducing travel time and also improving safety for local all road users.”
In addition to addressing tram and vehicle traffic, the projects will benefit cyclists with an elevated Mike Turtur Bikeway, providing a shared pathway alongside the tram line.
These infrastructure enhancements are sure to create a more efficient and safe travel experience for Adelaide’s residents, despite the short-term interruptions.
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