Road restrictions for Adelaide 500 slow traffic, while Adelaide Fringe approaches record ticket sales

FESTIVAL fever is in full swing in Adelaide – and its effect can be seen at box offices and on our roads.

Crowds at the Adelaide Fringe during the North Terrace street party. Picture: AAP / Matt Loxton

• Full list of road closures and lane restrictions
• City traffic delays of up to 30 minutes during peak hour
• Fringe news and reviews

FESTIVAL fever is in full swing in Adelaide – and its effect can be seen at the box office and on our roads.

While the Adelaide Fringe is on track to sell a record number of tickets this year, motorists are gearing up for lengthy peak-hour delays as Adelaide 500 road restrictions come into full force from tomorrow.

Drivers can expect to spend an extra 30 minutes on average in the car during peak-hour.

Most lane restrictions and closures are already in place and others will start on Bartels Rd and Hutt St (Bartels/Pirie St to Wakefield St) tomorrow.

RAA road safety senior manager Charles Mountain said delays were expected to be at their worst over the next two days as a result of motorists’ lack of awareness. “The critical thing for all is to check, if you’re not familiar with the closures, where they actually are,” he said. He suggested commuters give themselves extra time or consider using public transport, cycling or working from home.

The success of Mad March already can be measured at box offices where Fringe sales are up 8.5 per cent on the corresponding period last year.

Cazeleon and Gingzilla with Heather Croall and Nick Phillips.

Fringe director Heather Croall said about 250,000 tickets had been sold. The month-long event is expected to sell as many as 700,000 tickets, compared to 660,000 – worth more than $16 million – last year.

She credited several factors for the sales growth, including a focus on promotion by artists and venues, and the revamped ticketing system. “Our ticketing system is much easier to use on mobile phones and smartphone ticket purchasing has experienced huge growth,” she said. “We also have these self-collect machines all over Adelaide, so people don’t have to queue.”

The Parade of Light projections on North Tce was also bringing “tens of thousands of people who then go see a Fringe show” into the city every night, Ms Croall said.

The Royal Croquet Club’s Stuart Duckworth said thousands had come through the doors of outdoor live music series, Big River Motel.

The Adelaide Festival, starting Friday, is already experiencing its second highest box office result. Executive director Rob Brookman said shows including Hamlet, Cécile McLorin Salvant, the Chamber Landscapes concerts and Archie Roach were expected to sell out.