Trucking industry given go-ahead to explore new hills traffic route
After a truck rollover jammed the SE Freeway for hours, the trucking industry has been given approval to explore a link between Mt Barker and Grand Junction Rd.
Adelaide Hills
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Transport Department experts and the trucking industry will meet this month to plan an urgent solution to the notorious South Eastern Freeway bottleneck that on Monday brought Adelaide Hills commuter traffic to a standstill – again.
The trucking industry wants Transport Minister Stephan Knoll to look at a truck bypass, upgrading an existing road from Mt Barker to the eastern end of Grand Junction Rd, to allow access to and from Port Adelaide.
The freeway reopened six-and-a-half hours after a chicken truck rolled over at 3.30am, blocking all three lanes on the downtrack just below the Crafers turn-off.
The residual effects continued into midmorning, the fourth such traffic jam since October last year.
South Australian Road Transport Association spokesman Steve Shearer said it had a low-cost alternative to divert interstate trucks, which made up 65 per cent of the trucking traffic on the freeway.
It was discussed at a meeting between the State Government and the association on February 13.
“Minister Knoll agreed that we should develop with the department experts a feasibility study into upgrading one of the existing routes for trucks,’’ he said.
“One of the existing upgraded routes would link the freeway from Mt Barker to Grand Junction Rd, which would bypass the downhill section of the freeway and take us directly to Port Adelaide.”
Mr Shearer said delays like Monday’s were frustrating, for both commuters and truck drivers, and resulted in significant losses to the economy.
The State Government last month dumped its long-term solution to the problem, the Globelink strategy, a multibillion-dollar freight route bypassing Adelaide to allow direct access to Port Adelaide.
In response, Boothby MP Nicolle Flint vowed to “keep up the fight” to get trucks and freight trains out of Adelaide suburbs and the Hills, calling on the State Government to commission planning studies into a truck bypass, and road and rail grade separations.
Ongoing clean-up work caused about 100 trucks to park in the left-hand lane of the freeway, lined up for kilometres.
Diverted cars and buses were also brought to a standstill. There was also an angry response from motorists and community leaders.
RAA spokesman Charles Mountain said SARTA had proposed a “sensible alternative” after another “unacceptable” traffic jam on the freeway.
“Exploration of an alternative route is important given the decision that Globelink will not go ahead,’’ he said.
“In situations like today many trucks could be diverted.’’
Mount Barker Mayor Ann Ferguson said: “I don’t know what has to happen to make them (government) realise that the freeway, as it exists, has reached its use by date.
“I think it’s going to take a major fatality to make them realise that we have to do something different.
“I think building the ring road, they say we can’t afford, would the best solution. That would take care of some of the trucks travelling from Mallala and the Port.
“We’ve got to consider the value of life. Mount Barker has had a 6 per growth over the last few years, and has another 90 (per cent) to go. When I tell people that, it blows their socks off.
“But that alone highlights that we have to get semi-trailers off the freeway, or at least bring more employment to the Hills so people don’t have to travel down the freeway.’’
CEO Regional Development Australia, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, Damien Cooke said it also supported a bypass for trucking – but in a different location.
“I think that the best solution is the bypass concept – where heavy vehicles can be converted down from Murray Bridge to Port River expressway,’’ he said. “It’s longer but trucks can travel at a higher speed. More importantly, most of the infrastructure is already there, so it would be a cost-effective solution.
“I think the only thing you’d really have to upgrade are two or three intersections.’’
Adelaide Hills acting CEO Peter Bice said rail was also a strong freight solution.
“Significant changes are both planned and currently under construction for the National Rail Freight network, like the inland rail and a new rail freight terminal in Melbourne, which have the ability to fundamentally change the movement of rail freight through South Australia,’’ he said.
“An improved rail link could potentially: reduce traffic congestion and delays, reduce noise in suburban areas, reduce bushfire risk, and improve safety at level crossings and on the SE Freeway.”