Commuters in Adelaide hit with massive delays after two separate incidents on South Road

UPDATE: South Rd will remain closed between Cross Rd and Anzac Hwy during peak hours tonight, as engineers assess the safety of a bikeway overpass. However, trams are now running again.

SOUTH Rd will remain closed between Cross Rd and Anzac Hwy during peak hours tonight, as commuters are asked to avoid the area.

South Rd was abruptly closed this morning after debris was reported falling from the bike path attached to the tram overpass that spans the suburbs of Glandore and Black Forest.

The road will not be reopened until the bikeway overpass is deemed safe by an independent bridge expert, which the Transport Department says is unlikely to occur until some time on Thursday.

Traffic controllers are on site, and access to businesses and residents will be granted. However, no one will be permitted to travel under the overpass.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said that tram services had been restored because the damage was confined to a part of the overpass that supported the walking and cycling path.

However, the tram will not service Stop 6, at the top of the overpass.

The Mike Turtur Bikeway will also remain closed.

Bus routes 719, 720, 720H, 721, 721F, T721, 722, 722F, T722 and 723F have been affected by the road closure.

Adelaide Metro advises that bus stops 6, 7, 8 and 9 on South Rd in both directions are closed. It is advising passengers to go to stop 5 on Anzac Highway or stop 10 on South Rd instead.

Buses coming from the city will be re-routed along Anzac Hwy, Beckman St, Winifred Ave, Cross Rd and then back on to South Rd.

Buses going to the city will do this same route in reverse.

There will be significant delays across the whole network.

A few people bowled a couple of balls of cricket on the empty South Rd. Picture: Sam Wundke

Commuters across Adelaide were severely impacted by the sudden closure of South Rd this morning as delays stretched along West Terrace from Currie St, all the way to the Marion Rd and Anzac Hwy intersection.

All major roads in the area were also clogged. And in a separate incident also on South Rd, a burst water main near Neville Ave in Clarence Gardens added to the disruption.

Tram drivers stuck with their trams at stops 3 (Goodwood Rd), 4 (Forestville) and 5 (Black Forest) told commuters about the situation and where to catch a bus.

But at stops 1 (Greenhill Rd) and 2 (Wayville), commuters were unaware trams were not running between stop 7 and South Tce.

“These things happen I suppose, but it’s not convenient,” stop 2 passenger Amy Bacalso said.

Adelaide Metro said in a statement this morning a structural engineer had been called to inspect the site and an independent bridge expert would also be consulted.

“Until DPTI are satisfied that passengers, cyclists and motorists are safe, South Rd has been closed between Cross Road and Anzac Highway,” the statement read.

One local resident, who preferred not to be named, said he and his family used the tram service “every day” and that the damage to the bridge itself looked quite serious.

“I catch the tram to work and me and my kids ride our bikes underneath it,” he said.

“The whole thing has twisted apart and if you look at the relationship of the beam there, the whole thing has dropped down and if you look at it from an angle you can see all the bays there are twisted out.

“These guys (DPTI workers) are going to have a structural engineer sign off on it before it’s safe for the public to access — so obviously they’re doing some investigations now to ensure that’s the case.

“I’d be interested to know what’s caused that, as I’m sure everyone would be.”

Debris on the footpath from the tram overpass on South Rd, Black Forest. Picture: Sam Wundke

Real estate agent Lew Toop was riding across the bridge at 6.45am and noticed the concrete slab that acts as the bikeway was tilting towards South Rd.

“In my opinion, it’s quite possible the whole of the walkway — not the tram part ­— could collapse on to South Rd and if that happens, the whole of South Rd would be blocked,” Mr Toop said.

He got off his bike and continued across the bridge, holding tightly onto the handrail, while other people on it called 000.

“The whole of the concrete slab, rather than sitting horizontally, was tipping over towards the road enough to be concerned with it,” he said.

Damage to the South Rd overpass. Picture: Lew Toop

Liberal transport and infrastructure spokesman David Pisoni said the damage to the bridge was a major disruption to the city and the State Government needed to “immediately” explain to the public why it has happened.

“I’ve just been told that the joint in the bridge has dropped and no longer aligned — they can’t tell me how long it will take to fix it, they still don’t know as they’re still analysing what the problem is, but the fact that this is modern infrastructure and less than 10 years old is extraordinary,” Mr Pisoni said.

“We’re in a situation where they have closed all of South Rd and the tram service is down.

“Obviously this means that there is some concern about the integrity of the bridge.

“It really does raise questions about this Government’s management of infrastructure over the last 15 years.”