Finally! The $3.5m project to fix Adelaide’s worst roundabout to start soon

THE State Government has released the final design for the $3.5 million realignment of the Blackwood roundabout.

Final plan for the $3.5 million redesign of Blackwood roundabout, due to begin in early 2018.

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THE State Government has released the final design for the $3.5 million realignment of Blackwood Roundabout, ending years of complaints from residents.

The new design, which was presented to Mitcham Council at a briefing this month, has removed a sliplane from Main Rd to Coromandel Parade.

Provision for a right-hand turn into Magnet Shopping Centre has been included.

The removal of the sliplane has opened up the possibility of the Blackwood Memorial Soldier remaining at its current home in front of the Uniting Church.

Mitcham Mayor Glenn Spear said the council was “satisfied” with the latest design.

“Every ward forum and every discussion I’ve had in the last three years, people raise issues with the roundabout,” Mr Spear said.

“We are very grateful the government has spent money in Blackwood.

“Will it solve all the problems (at the roundabout)? It won’t, but it’s a start.”

Final plan for the $3.5 million redesign of Blackwood roundabout, due to begin in early 2018.

But Mr Spear said the “big question”, about where the memorial soldier would be relocated to make way for the upgrade, remained.

The memorial, which is the centre point of Blackwood’s annual Anzac and Remembrance Day ceremonies, currently stands in front of the Uniting Church.

“It has to move or it’s right on the road, and that would be dangerous,” Mr Spear said.

“I’m happy to listen to the input of the community. The council doesn’t have a set position or opinion as to where the memorial should go.”

The Transport Department has said its preferred option was to move the memorial to the corner of Main and Station roads.

The Uniting Church property secretary Bob Lyon said the removal of the sliplane had created room to keep the memorial on the church grounds, by moving it back towards the building.

“We are prepared to look at an option that would include leaving the memorial on that space,” Mr Lyon said.

“I’ve indicated that to council and DPTI.”

A third — and contentious — suggestion is to move the soldier to Waite St Reserve, which has been championed by resident Rob O’Sullivan and supported by groups, including the RSL.

Tony Mudge, who collected more than 2000 signatures on a petition in 2013 against moving the statue to the reserve, said the public should be consulted about any relocation.

“That’s the issue the council has been reluctant to grab hold of and take under the belt,” Mr Mudge said.

“It should be in front of the church. It has to remain up there because it’s part of the heritage of the district.”

Blackwood roundabout.

Waite Independent MP Martin Hamilton-Smith said the roundabout had been “causing tens of thousands of commuters grief for more than a decade” and was now on track to be completed in time for Anzac Day next year.

“This project has largely been shaped by the fantastic amount of community involvement at the information sessions, public forums, and consultation booths held over the last few months,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“A safer commute, far improved pedestrian connectivity, and a beautified heart of Blackwood have been the common requests from locals during our extensive community consultation.”

The Blackwood Roundabout upgrade was announced as part of this year’s State Budget, after years of complaints from residents the intersection is unsafe and difficult to navigate.

The work includes making the roundabout, at the intersection of Coromandel Pde, Shepherds Hill and Main roads, larger and moving it several metres southeast.

Access from Station Rd will be closed.

There were 35 crashes at the roundabout between 2011 and 2015.

The final design will come to Mitcham Council next January for approval.