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Crash repairer, West Thebarton Hotel could be affected by proposed South Rd tunnels design

The proposed location of the South Rd tunnels reveals which businesses could be forced to move – and opinions are very mixed.

Flyover of final stage of North South Corridor

A state heritage-listed pub and a well-known panel beater are among the many businesses in the firing line of the government’s latest proposed designs of the Torrens to Darlington upgrade.

A new map, which was released to the public this week, shows one of the options the Department for Infrastructure and Transport is considering for the state’s biggest infrastructure project.

More than 10km of road will be transformed, with two tunnels built under South Rd and a series of lowered and surface motorways, slashing travel time by 24 minutes.

According to the proposals, the entrance to the River Torrens to Anzac Highway tunnel – dubbed the “northern tunnel” – would be built next to West Thebarton Rd.

The state heritage-listed West Thebarton Hotel could be affected if this proposed design goes ahead.

Manager Simon Hughes said “progress is progress” and was willing to make way for the upgrade if required. “We are able to move our liquor licence and … gaming licence,” he said.

“If worst comes to worst and we had to demolish the hotel, we wouldn’t lose our business per se, we could just move it to (another) location.”

Mr Hughes said the bumper-to-bumper traffic on South Rd meant few people were able to visit the pub after 4pm.

“If you try to come from any direction, it takes 20 minutes to get in the carpark and 20 minutes to leave,” he said. “We all want the new road.”

The West Thebarton hotel could be demolished for the South Rd tunnels. Picture: Tom Huntley
The West Thebarton hotel could be demolished for the South Rd tunnels. Picture: Tom Huntley

At St Marys, Tonsley Crash Repairs owner David Carruthers said he feared for his business.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “There’s all these rumours getting around saying ‘this side of the road is going’ and ‘that side of the road is going’, but no one really knows.”

Mr Carruthers’ well-established business is next to the proposed southern entry of the Anzac Highway to Darlington tunnel, or the “southern tunnel”.

“If I got booted from here, it would be the biggest pain in the arse in the world,” he said.

“We are in a perfect spot, a corner block, traffic belting past up and down all day. Everyone sees our signage.”

‘Biggest pain in the arse’: Tonsley Crash Repairs owner David Carruthers out the front of his business on South Rd. Picture: Michael Marschall
‘Biggest pain in the arse’: Tonsley Crash Repairs owner David Carruthers out the front of his business on South Rd. Picture: Michael Marschall

Transport Minister Corey Wingard said the final design was still a work in progress.

“Public consultation along the way is vital to ensure the community is aware of the project and its benefits,” he said.

The Torrens to Darlington Project is expected to start in late 2023 and finish in late 2028, according to the federal government.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/south/crash-repairer-west-thebarton-hotel-could-be-affected-by-proposed-south-rd-tunnels-design/news-story/46004e290f8a02023b424fc472022bf8