Darlington interchange signage to be reviewed amid driver confusion
Cars on the wrong side of the road. People ending up at Reynella. Driver confusion on the new Darlington interchange has prompted the Transport Department to check the signage.
SA News
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The Transport Department is reviewing its signage at the new $750m Darlington interchange after motorists declared the new roadway was confusing and difficult to navigate.
A Government spokeswoman said while all signage along the interchange was compliant and met Australian Standards, the Department was taking action in response to the feedback.
“The project team is currently assessing feedback from road users,” she said.
“The Department … acknowledges there have been many changes to traffic layouts and signage over the course of the project and appreciates the public’s patience and understanding.”
It came after Advertiser columnist Rex Jory this week described the Darlington interchange as “at best, inadequate and, at worst, potentially life-threatening”.
“ … anyone using the interchange for the first time, particularly if they are trying to exit from the centre of the network, can easily get lost in the spaghetti maze of looping overpasses and turn-offs,” he said.
Mr Jory suggested better signage was needed to help motorists navigate the busy roadway.
Readers were quick to take to The Advertiser’s Facebook page to support the call.
“Went through the Darlington intersection heading south yesterday and to my surprise a car was driving in the complete opposite direction approaching the intersection – could not believe my eyes,” Lesley Brenen Westbrook wrote.
Jeff Burgher agreed the upgrade was confusing.
“I’ve seen and been told of plenty who end up at Reynella and have to come back down South Rd because of poor signage,” he wrote.
“Once you’re on the expressway that’s it.”
Diana DeWit described it as a “disaster”.
“It’s a total mess and disaster, with accidents waiting to happen because no-one knows where the hell they’re going and what speed should they be driving,” she said.
“People cut from far lanes and drive like they can’t see.”
But others said there was nothing wrong with the signage.
“It’s not that hard,” Lareina Bishop said.
“Drive it everyday, it’s only dangerous when people don’t know how to drive, and trucks merging across three lanes of traffic but otherwise I’m loving the new section.”
Stephen Drummond said the upgrade was “fantastic”.
“The fact that it confuses idiots helps keep the traffic numbers down too – bonus,” he said.
The Darlington Upgrade was officially opened last month.
The $754.5 million Federal and State Government project involved the upgrade of 3.3km of Main South Rd, including the creation of a non-stop motorway between the Southern Expressway and Tonsley Boulevard, and a lowered non-stop motorway under several roads.
The Advertiser ran an online poll in which it asked “Do you find the signage on the Darlington interchange too confusing?”
As at 4pm on Tuesday, almost 1500 people had responded, with 73 per cent saying they found it confusing, while 17 per cent did not and 10 per cent did at first.
