First stage of roadworks to ease Darlington Interchange traffic dramas finally completed
After three years of disruption, completed sections of the $620m Darlington Interchange will open to vehicles this weekend — and a new video reveals the complex traffic flows for motorists.
The problem-plagued Darlington Upgrade Project will reach a major milestone on Saturday when new lanes open to vehicles for the first time.
The first of four staged openings will mean motorists can use the new Main South Rd bridge on to the lowered motorway.
The switch will direct most traffic on to the northbound carriageway of the lowered motorway, reorganised temporarily as two lanes heading southbound and two lanes northbound.
In addition, a minimum of two lanes on the surface roads — which run along each side of the lowered motorway — will also be available to maintain local traffic access.
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said the opening from 5am Saturday would be the first traffic allowed on the lowered motorway, and full details of complex traffic changes would be posted on the department website.
“This is the first of a number of major traffic switches which are necessary to enable works to continue on other sections of this important project,’’ he said.
“We are urging motorists to drive with care through the area and to allow additional travel time during the switch.
“Traffic controllers will be in place and signage will alert motorists to the changed traffic conditions.”
The project is being constructed in stages to ensure traffic continues to flow efficiently through the North-South Corridor. But in May disaster struck when a flimsy concrete wall collapsed and caused a landslip on to the lowered road.
The next traffic switch, at a date to be determined, is planned to move traffic on to the new Ayliffes Rd bridge and an additional two switches will then be undertaken on Main South Rd.
The traffic changes have been given the go-ahead because independent experts from Aurecon and WGA have given safety approval for the ongoing shotcrete remediation work fixing collapsed sections of wall.