Adelaide’s flagship O-Bahn tunnel to close weeks after opening

THE $160 million O-Bahn tunnel has been forced to close for further works — less than a month after it was unveiled amid much fanfare.

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THE $160 million O-Bahn tunnel has been forced to close for further works — less than a month after it was unveiled.

A notice on the Adelaide Metro website was posted at 2.48pm on Wednesday saying the tunnel would be closed for “finishing works” on four occasions between next Tuesday and Monday, February 26.

The tunnel will be closed overnight two days next week, as well as next weekend and another weekend in late February.

During the tunnel closures, buses will be forced to instead travel from Hackney Rd via Botanic Rd and East Tce to Grenfell St.

Buses started using the 670m tunnel under Rymill Park from December 11, a day after the State Government held a community fun day to launch it amid much fanfare.

A Government spokeswoman said the ”external” works included the installation of “throw screens”, additional signage and completion of “portal fences”.

She said the works were “always scheduled” to occur in early 2018, but was unable to say by just yet where or how the closures had been notified before Wednesday.

Liberal transport spokesman David Pisoni said it was a “hopeless excuse” that prioritised a pre-election ribbon cutting ahead of efficiency.

“How can South Australians have any confidence in our public transport system when Labor opens and closes services like a fridge door?” Mr Pisoni said.