Idea of tunnels on North-South corridor supported by RAA, civil construction industry and local business
THE idea of building tunnels along South Rd has been welcomed by the RAA, the civil construction industry and local businesses.
- Yesterday: Possibility of South Rd tunnels back on the table
- May: Budget includes $1.4 billion for north-south corridor
THE idea of building tunnels along the last stages of the North-South Corridor, linking Adelaide’s southern suburbs to the north of the city, has been welcomed by the RAA, the civil construction industry and local businesses.
Support for the option, which is yet to be designed or costed, is being driven by a feeling tunnels would reduce the number of properties that would need to be compulsory acquired for the two 5km stages.
Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the tunnel concept, revealed in The Advertiser yesterday, was “bloody brilliant”.
He said if it proved cost effective, it would be a very good solution to traffic problems on South Rd.
“I’ve heard people talk about a road over the road with pylons … but let’s face it, it looks ghastly when that’s done,” Mr Hanna said.
“The prospect of widening South Rd fills me with dread — the thought of the many businesses and homes that would need to be acquired by the Department of Transport.”
Southern Business Connections chairman Greg Garrihy said plans for the entire North-South Corridor needed to be released so businesses could plan their future.
Landlords and businesses had faced uncertainty over whether their properties would still be standing in a few years’ time, Mr Garrihy said.
He supported the concept of building tunnels, expecting the State Government would need to acquire very few properties.
Shane Manners, who owns Dragons Lair Hobbies and Gaming store on South Rd in Edwardstown, welcomed the tunnel option.
“It gets so built up during the day it feels like it’s always peak hour,” he said. “Then when it’s actually peak hour, it’s so slow it’s ridiculous.”
Mr Manners believed using tunnels to speed up traffic would be much less intrusive on businesses than other options, such as overpasses or underpasses.
“An overpass would obscure the view of a lot of businesses,” he said. “And if they were widening the road they’d have to knock down a lot of shops.”
RAA road safety spokesman Charles Mountain was pleased the Government was considering tunnels.
“It is something the RAA suggested in 2005,” he said.
“One of the issues that will need to be considered is where entry and exit points will be.”
Business SA senior policy Adviser Andrew McKenna said commercial interests should play an important part in setting a timetable for the project.
He said the first sections to be upgraded should be the ones that would most benefit export-orientated freight routes, including to and from Adelaide Airport.
Civil Contractors Federation SA chief executive officer Phil Sutherland suspected the best approach would be to “dig a big trench and put a roof on it”, rather than drilling deep underground.
“We are pleased the minister is not ruling anything in or out,” he said.
