Developer’s unauthorised roadworks cause huge delays in Nairne on first day back at school

A developer’s permit has been cancelled after unauthorised traffic lights caused huge delays for the first day back at school in the Hills.

There were huge delays in Nairne on the first day back of school as housing development roadworks brought the busiest parts of the Adelaide Hills town to a standstill. Picture: Lynton Grace

An unauthorised traffic light has been blamed for bringing Adelaide Hills commuters to a standstill on the first day back at school.

Developers of The Orchards housing development have been reprimanded by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport after operating a portable traffic light along the Old Princes Highway on Wednesday morning.

The portable lights were set up to move cars on to the other side of the road, causing up to 40- minute delays for some commuters.

Nairne Primary School students were also forced to leave their parents’ cars – stuck in traffic – to make it to class on time.

Some students got out into busy oncoming traffic, while other parents parked cars on the side of the road.

Both Mount Barker Council and the department were inundated with angry calls as residents demanded action.

Commuters experienced huge delays in Nairne on Wednesday morning. Picture: Lynton Grace

Nairne resident Kristina Johnson said it took her 35 minutes to get her kids to school.

“Usually it’s a two- to three-minute drive,” she said.

“I believe it was because of this traffic light which slowed the flow, which would normally come out of Nairne, so ended up banking up traffic … all the way through into the main street.

“My child, along with a few others, actually got out of the car and chose to walk to school because it was quicker.

“So I saw all of these kids literally bailing out of their parents’ cars and then running up the footpath towards the school.”

Emma Farnam said the delays had caused many Reception students to miss out on fully experiencing their first day of school.

The line-up of cars near the roadworks, on the Old Princes Highway. Picture: Lynton Grace

The traffic delay was caused by work on a stormwater pipe for The Orchard housing development at Nairne. Picture: Lynton Grace

“It took me about 35 minutes to drive 800 metres, it was absolutely insane as I drive from Nairne to Mylor for school drop-offs,” she said.

“And that’s the only main road out to Mount Barker so that’s the route most people are taking as it’s the only way to the freeway.

“I felt so sorry for all the kids, they already feel so stressed on their first day of school and don’t want to be late.

“So turning up 20 minutes late would be their worst nightmare.”

A department spokesman said this morning’s incident was a breach of the developer’s subdivision permit.

“They were working at a location the traffic management permit issued by the department did not allow, and as a result it has been cancelled,” he said.

“The contractor has been advised to apply for a new permit, which is likely to restrict their working hours to between 9am to 3pm to avoid any impacts to traffic during peak times.”

A spokesman for The Orchard said the developer had both departmental and council approval to operate at 7am on Wednesday morning to address works on a stormwater pipe.

He said the incident was a one-off and work would not begin before 9am in the future.