A comprehensive review of safety issues on the South Eastern Freeway down-track will take place next week at a high-level industry roundtable with key stakeholders including participants from road freight and heavy vehicle associations, SA Police, the RAA and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
The review will build on measures already put in place in recent years to improve the safety of all vehicles on the South Eastern Freeway down-track, including heavy vehicles. These measures included increased signage, reduced maximum speeds for heavy vehicles making the descent, and covering the costs of towing heavy vehicles from safety ramps.
Factors ranging from infrastructure and technology requirements to driver training and education will be considered.
The review will also explore:
- potential infrastructure improvements, including a third safety ramp between the current safety ramp and the Glen Osmond Road/Portrush Road intersection, as well as ways to better use existing infrastructure and systems such as safety ramps, signage and safety cameras;
- how technology can be used to improve safety, including point-to-point cameras and enhanced communication;
- options to improve compliance, including legislation, driver and industry training, education and communication with industry;
- measures that other states have implemented to manage steep descents.
South Australia is working with other state jurisdictions to improve and streamline heavy vehicle training and licensing systems across Australia, to ensure the competency of heavy vehicle drivers travelling across borders.
The Australian and South Australian governments have also committed $75 million to refit and upgrade the Heysen Tunnels and a further $75 million for Stage 2 of the South Eastern Freeway Managed Motorway Measures – which will extend the Managed Motorway system currently in place between Crafers and Stirling to the Glen Osmond Tollgate, with proposed works to include:
- moveable centre barrier gates installed at locations where feasible;
- intelligent transport systems (including gantries with cameras, sensing equipment, dynamic signage), facilities for a standby tow truck fleet and other infrastructure installed on-road;
- integration of the works with the Traffic Management Centre, to mitigate the impacts of incidents on traffic flows and provide more flexibility in managing the response.
The review outcome will be incorporated into the scope of the Managed Motorway Measures project.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis will host the industry roundtable on Wednesday, 24 August 2022.
For more information, visit the Department of Infrastructure and Transport website.
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