Intersection upgrade at Daws Road and Springbank Road causes more headaches for commuters on Goodwood Road

It’s set to be another morning of pain for commuters on Goodwood Rd, with traffic lights out at the Daws Rd intersection. Meanwhile, a power outage is also affecting motorists in the northern suburbs.

An intersection upgrade south of the city has caused another morning of peak-hour pain, while a power outage has affected traffic in the northern suburbs.

Adding to the pain this morning, the traffic lights are out and control workers are on-site at the intersection of Goodwood Road, Springbank Road and Daws Road.

SA Police senior constable Mick Abbott said the lights would be out until mid-morning on Tuesday.

“That intersection is very busy at the best of times, so perhaps avoid that area if you can because that’s going to cause long delays for all sorts of people,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

He said a power outage in the Salisbury Plain area had also affected traffic lights at the intersection of Main North Road and Saints Road, and at Main North Road and Blacktop Road.

“It might be a good idea, if you can, to avoid those areas,” he said.

Traffic lights are out at the intersection of Main North Road and Saints Road due to a power outage in the area - please use caution if driving in the area.

— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) April 12, 2021

Huge traffic delays on Goodwood Rd on Monday morning. Picture: Russell Millard

The traffic jam was caused by roadworks for the Springbank Rd/Daws Rd intersection upgrade. Picture: Russell Millard

The roadworks on Goodwood Rd are aimed at fixing the Springbank Rd dog-leg. Picture: Russell Millard

Lengthy delays were experienced by peak-hour commuters along Goodwood Road on Monday morning due to the intersection upgrade.

Traffic was down to just one lane in both directions on Goodwood Rd at the intersection.

Traffic was backed up as far down as the Southern Expressway, with major traffic jams experienced on Ayliffes Road and Fiveash Drive, as workman started pouring new bitumen.

There were also delays on South Road, as commuters going towards the city attempt to avoid the roadworks.

There are reports that people trying to get to the Bedford Group on Goodwood Rd, Panorama, were forced to park at Centennial Park and walk down because the traffic was so bad.

Commuter Julie Jones, 35, of Bedford Park, said she was an hour late to work in the city.

“I understand that the upgrade is necessary, but the delays were horrific,” she said.

“It would’ve been ideal if there was better management, and I can see how some people just get fed up.”

But Peggy Kominos, who owns coffee shop Stacks of Snacks on the other side of the intersection, said she was unaffected.

“I can’t say it’s impacted us at all,” Ms Kominos said.

She said that the shop was slightly busier during peak hour, but the roadworks are a matter of “having a job that needs to get done.”

A DIT spokesperson said the delays were anticipated given the lane closures. The spokesperson said adjustments to traffic management will be made “where possible”.

A notification from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport said works to install new pavement along Goodwood Road, Springbank Road and Daws Road, as part of the new four-way intersection upgrade, would be undertaken day and night during the April school holidays – which started Monday morning – “while traffic volumes are lower”.

The department warned there would be “limited access” to Goodwood Road from Springbank Road and Daws Road during this period.

“Signage will be placed at key locations to provide advance notice to motorists of the change in access arrangements. Access will be maintained for buses and emergency services vehicles at all times,” the notification says.

Commuters were advised to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

Goodwood, Springbank and Daws Road Upgrade Project As part of the Goodwood, Springbank and Daws Road Upgrade Project,...

Posted by SA Infrastructure and Transport on Friday, April 9, 2021

“During morning peak periods, two lanes will be maintained for traffic heading

north to the city and one lane for traffic heading south on Goodwood Road. This will be

reversed for the afternoon peak period,” it said.

On Monday a department spokesman added that the current restrictions “are the most impactful for this part of the project, with smoother traffic flow expected following school holidays”.

“This allows the necessary works to be undertaken safely, completed in a shorter timeframe, minimising the duration of construction impacts to traffic and the surrounding community, as much as practically possible” he said.

”The delays experienced this morning and over the weekend were anticipated, given the lane closures required to undertake this work.”

He said the department would continue to monitor traffic and make adjustments “where possible”, including increasing signage placed at key locations to provide advance notice to motorists of the change in access arrangements.

Work to upgrade the busy Springbank, Daws and Goodwood roads intersection started at the end of 2019 to create “a new four-way intersection” at a cost of $61 million, and is expected to be complete in 2022.

The project, which aims to fix the Springbank Rd dog-leg, has been dogged by controversy, with residents complaining in October 2019 they had been left in the dark.

Several properties, including landmark business Peter Van the Party Man have been acquired in the expansion of the intersection.