Heavy vehicle road bypass proposed around Hahndorf to help ease traffic congestion

A major vehicle bypass is coming for popular Hills tourist town Hahndorf, through which more than 11,000 trucks and cars pass every day. See the designs here.

A major road bypass is being proposed for Hahndorf, only a week after Adelaide Hills heavyweights called for action to address congestion on the South Eastern Freeway.

The State Government on Thursday released a strategic planning study for Hahndorf as part of a $250m Hahndorf improvement and upgrade project announced in last October’s federal budget.

Three long-awaited options for alternative vehicle access to and around Hahndorf are now out for public consulation.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard said there was “currently no convenient alternative route” for trucks headling north or south through the local area.

“Soo they need to use Mount Barker Road,” he said.

“Three alternative route options have been identified to provide access to and from the South Eastern Freeway, along with a set of ideas to improve traffic management and amenity in the main street.”

The three options are:

■ a full interchange at River Road and a new link road connecting Echunga Road and River Road

■ a half interchange at River Road and a link road connecting Echunga Road and River Road;

■ a full interchange at Verdun with a link road connecting Echunga Road and River Road

Each option includes an upgrade to the existing Mount Barker interchange, comprising new traffic signals at the southern intersection and ramp capacity improvements.

Option 1 for the Hahndorf bypass.

Option 2 for the Hahndorf bypass.

Option 3 for the Hahndorf bypass.

A dedicated shared-use path, connecting Verdun and Hahndorf, also forms part of proposal, providing the missing link for the Pioneer Women’s Trail.

The project is expected to support about 350 full-time-equivalent jobs.

According to the study, around 11,000 vehicles, including 480 heavy vehicles, pass through Hahndorf each day.

Deputy chairwoman of the Hahndorf Business and Tourism Association Carolyn Cattrall, said a bypass would alleviate long-standing traffic issues in one of the state’s top tourist destinations.

“HBTA are supportive of the bypass plan and we’re looking forward to seeing all the details and taking part in the consultation process,” she said.

“We are especially pleased that the plan includes working with Mount Barker District Council on their main street upgrade as well, which was one of our original main concerns.”

Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie said she applauded the decision to providing residents with a range of bypass options.

“When you live it, when you live on the roads, you can give quite a well-reasoned view, so it’s really important to have those options (to look at),” she said.

“The whole Verdun/Hahndorf traffic, in particular, has been a real issue for a long time ... as has been getting to Murray Bridge from Woodside, so I have been pushing for a way to get a two-way traffic interchange at that Verdun interchange.

“So I’m really excited for the community as it’s a significant amount of money and there’s also an opportunity to fix broadly, from Hahndorf up to Totness, the traffic issues up there.”

Traffic chaos in Hahndorf’s main street. Picture: Emma Brasier

The study shows there’s been 32 crashes along Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf, between 2015 and 2019, resulting in two serious injuries and 34 minor injuries.

Of these crashes, 11 occurred in the main street section between Ambleside Road and Windsor Avenue.

Detailed planning for the Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade Project will start later this year, with construction expected to begin in late 2023.

MORE TO COME