Government rules out ‘sub-optimal’ O-Bahn extension plans for Adelaide’s northeast
The State Government has ruled out any possibility of extending Adelaide’s O-Bahn network between Tea Tree Plaza and Golden Grove, saying it would be “sub-optimal” for the community.
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An extension of Adelaide’s O-Bahn network between Tea Tree Plaza and Golden Grove has been ruled out, with the State Government saying the option would destroy too many trees and cost too much money.
On Thursday, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport released their long-awaited North East Public Transport Study, which examined the feasibility of extending the O-Bahn.
It found extending the O-Bahn would lead to the demolition of 41 homes and 290 trees and would be “sub-optimal” for the community.
“With a price tag of more than $250 million, (this) was not good bang for the taxpayer’s buck,” a joint statement between Premier Steven Marshall and transport minister Corey Wingard said.
A “minimum intervention strategy” that involved giving buses dedicated “jump lanes” at intersections was the preferred option.
The government said jump lanes would be installed on Golden Grove Road at North East Road, Milne Road, Grenfell Road and The Grove Way.
The report said this option would destroy 55 trees and cost $13 million.
It will form part of the second stage of an upgrade to Golden Grove Road, which focuses on the area between Park Lane Drive and Kunzea Way and is estimated to cost $30 million.
Local member Blair Boyer, of the Opposition, said the report “delivered a whimper, not a bang”.
While it is great to finally see Stage 2 going ahead, today’s announcement falls way short of what the local community had been promised and what it was expecting,” Mr Boyer said.
“(Mr Wingard) must explain why an expanded Park ‘n’ Ride at Golden Grove has been abandoned and why it took two years to deliver the North East Public Transport Study.
In September, then transport minister Stephan Knoll said the busway should be extended from Tea Tree Plaza to the Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride.
He said the study recommended a “number of options” for the extension, but would not elaborate further.
However, the report released on Thursday rules out any possibility of an extension.
gabriel.polychronis@news.com.au
