New safety enhancements have been announced for the South Eastern Freeway, including upgraded interchanges at Verdun and Mt Barker. However, according to the RAA, it’s not enough. The organisation has released a statement for its advocacy for the construction of a third safety ramp to boost safety measures further.
The upgrades, supported by additional funding from Federal and State Governments, are set to incorporate variable speed limits and median barrier gates. These improvements will allow for traffic contra-flow, which is crucial for enhancing time reliability and responding to incidents more efficiently.
The RAA hopes part of the announced funding can also be earmarked for reconfiguring the intersection of Cross, Portrush and Glen Osmond Roads. This change would help to alleviate the traffic congestion on Cross Road, ensuring that it doesn’t interfere with the path of other vehicles.
However, RAA Senior Manager of Safety & Infrastructure Charles Mountain urged authorities not to rule out a third safety ramp as a final step to improve safety.
“We welcome this extra investment and much-needed safety upgrades for the South Eastern Freeway,” Mr Mountain said.
“The Adelaide Hills has a growing population and needs to be serviced with transport infrastructure that is safe, reliable and accessible.
“These upgrades are all positive outcomes for both safety and traffic flow – in particular the upgraded interchanges at Mt Barker and Verdun.
“The new Verdun interchange should reduce the amount of traffic needing to use River Road in Hahndorf.
“On the Freeway itself, the managed motorway elements and new moveable barriers will enable traffic to move past an incident that otherwise might result in a standstill for several hours.
“But if we want to make this corridor as safe as possible, a third safety ramp would provide that final option for any out-of-control vehicles before the intersection at Cross/Glen Osmond/Portrush Roads, especially for those that misjudge the descent after the second safety ramp.
“We will continue to advocate for the Government to investigate this option.”
RAA continues to push for government consideration on this safety feature, aiming to maximise protection for motorists in this increasingly busy corridor.
More News
