Clearway times extended for more major roads to the CBD as government moves to cut commute time

Clearway times on some of Adelaide’s busiest roads will be extended in a move the SA government says will cut travel times by limiting roadside parking.

Clearways will be extended on several of Adelaide’s busiest roads in a bid to bust congestion and reduce traffic delays for all commuters.

As the major parties aim to convince South Australians they have the best infrastructure plans for Adelaide in the lead up to the May 18 Federal Election, the State Government will on Wednesday release its Keeping Metro Traffic Moving plan aimed at busting traffic congestion.

A centrepiece of the plan is the extension of clearway operating times on several major roads, set to come into effect by the end of June.

Major metropolitan roads to benefit from the changes include South Rd, Sir Donald Bradman Drive Marion Rd, Goodwood Rd, Port Rd, Unley Rd, Belair Rd, Northcote Tce, Nottage Tce, Payneham Rd, North Tce and Flinders St.

Under the changes the ever-busy section of South Rd between Anzac Highway and Ayliffes Rd will maintain bicycle lanes and clearways in both directions all day — between 7am and 7pm.

Traffic map clear ways jpegged

The extended clearways will also free up bike lanes on many of the roads, making it safer for cyclists.

An RAA traffic survey in February found that average speeds during peak times on many popular routes to and from the CBD had slowed up to 11km/h over the past decade.

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll told The Advertiser the plan aims to “help bust congestion” across Adelaide, reduce travel times, get people home sooner and address “choke points fast”.

He said the plan will also include intersection and road upgrades, level crossing separations, safety improvements, bus priority lanes and bus indents — some of which have already been announced.

“Across Adelaide, a number of our most important and frequently used roads are showing increased congestion and many intersections are either approaching or at capacity,” he said.

South Australian Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

Opposition infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

“We want to avoid the same problems we’ve seen in Sydney and Melbourne where there is traffic chaos that has crippled those cities.”

Mr Knoll said the latest measures added to the successful extension of clearway times implemented last year on Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton Rd, Main North Rd, Portrush and Lower Portrush Rds, Hampstead Rd and North East Rd.

The report says the benefits of gaining extra lane capacity particularly during peak traffic times outweighs the loss of kerb-side parking.

It lists other benefits including:

IMPROVED bus and freight traffic flow, as the need to weave around parked vehicles is eliminated;

REDUCED need for freight to travel in the median lane;

MORE even distribution of vehicles over the traffic lanes and less lane changing;

AVERAGE travel speeds improved; and

SAFER for cyclists who do not need not weave around parked vehicles.

The report predicts the changes could reduce rear-end traffic crashes by 20 per cent, halve the number of crashes into parked vehicles and lower pedestrian collisions by 30 per cent.

“Congestion busting infrastructure” has been a theme running through Federal Politics for months with both major parties promising to get motorists spending less time in traffic.

The Federal Budget included a number of level crossing upgrades including $115.5 million for Torrens Rd at Ovingham and $85.5 million for Brighton Rd at Hove.

A further $97 million was included for upgrades of the Portrush Rd/Magill Rd, Fullarton Rd/Cross Rd and Springbank Rd/Goodwood Rd/Daws Rd intersections.

South Australian opposition infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis, who had not yet seen the plans which are to be released today, said the Labor Party did not have a problem with extended clearways in principle.

However, Mr Koutsantonis said the State Government would need to prove that the businesses along roads where clearways are to be extended would not be adversely affected by the loss of on-street parking for their customers.

The roads affected

SIR DONALD BRADMAN DRIVE (Airport Rd to South Rd)

Part-time bicycle lanes east and west bound: 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

SOUTH RD (Anzac Hwy to Ayliffes Rd)

Part-time bicycle lanes and clearway lanes north and south bound: 7am-7pm Monday to Friday.

NORTHCOTE TCE (Stephen Tce to Robe Tce)

Clearway city bound: 7am-10am Monday to Friday.

Clearway outbound: 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

NOTTAGE TCE (North East Rd to Main North Rd)

Removing existing clearway in westbound lanes, replacing with new no standing zones.

Existing parking on eastbound lanes and indented parking on east and westbound lanes will remain unchanged.

PAYNEHAM RD (Glynburn Rd to North Tce) and NORTH TCE (Fullarton Rd to Hackney Rd)

Clearway and bicycle lanes city-bound: 7am-10am Monday to Friday.

Clearway and bicycle lanes outbound: 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

FLINDERS ST (The Parade to Dequetteville Tce)

Clearway city-bound: 7am-10am Monday to Friday.

Clearway outbound: 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

MARION RD (Anzac Hwy to Sturt Rd)

Part-time bicycle lanes and clearway lanes north and south bound: 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

GOODWOOD RD (Greenhill Rd to Daws Rd)

Part-time bus lanes (between Springbank Rd and Dudley Ave): 7am-10am Monday to Friday for northbound and 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday for southbound.

Part-time clearway (between Dudley Ave and Greenhill Rd): 7am-10am Monday to Friday for northbound and 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday for southbound.

PORT RD (Grand Junction Rd to Gaol Rd)

Part-time bicycle lanes and clearway lanes north and south bound: 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

UNLEY RD/BELAIR RD (Greenhill Rd to Springbank Rd)

Part-time bicycle lanes and clearway lanes north and south bound: City bound 7am-10am and outbound 3pm-7pm Monday to Friday