School, work and new year traffic clog Adelaide roads

First the school kids went back, now Adelaide’s vehicle fleet is jamming up roads, even more than pre-COVID-19 levels.

Peak hour traffic heading into the city on Port Rd, Hindmarsh. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Adelaide’s peak-hour traffic has bounced back to eclipse pre-pandemic levels, with 6.7 per cent more vehicles hitting the roads in some hot spots compared to this time last year.

As commuters complain about long delays getting to and from the city during key times, especially with schools returning, the latest Transport Department figures show traffic volumes across the city were up 3.3 per cent compared to the final week of January in 2020.

Public transport use was down nearly a third last week, compared to 12 months ago.

Figures for the long traffic delays motorists experienced in the first two working days of this week are not yet available.

The Australian Traffic Network warned Adelaide motorists would need time to adjust their peak-hour routes to combat the delays.

Network spokeswoman Shantal Hart said an increasing number of workers returning to the office, as well as parents making school runs, would have to find alternative routes.

“Roadworks around the metro area have also picked up, which commuters are still adjusting to,’’ she said.

“Generally, once motorists find their route involves certain restrictions or delays due to ongoing works, they find alternate ways to get around them, which can help ease the congestion in those areas.”

But she said in the meantime, busy roads meant bigger risks.

“With extra congestion comes the increased chance of collisions, with rear-enders and intersection prangs being the most common, particularly during peak hour.

“This then adds to the delays on the commute.

“Other hazards we can come across include breakdowns, debris or spills on the road and of course the weather.”

Acting manager of the state’s Traffic Management Centre Michael Southern said hot spots around the city last week when school returned recorded the largest year-on-year increase.

He said there was a 3.9 per cent increase recorded at the Goodwood Road/Cross Road intersection compared to last January, a 6.7 per cent increase at Port Road/James Congdon Drive/George Street, and 4.9 per cent at Payneham Road/Portrush Road.

Commuters told The Advertiser they had been shocked by the increase in peak hour commuting times in recent days. Several said their trips, particularly in the morning, had doubled in time in recent days.

By contrast, the biggest decrease in traffic volume during the COVID-19 pandemic was during the “circuit breaker” lockdown in November, when traffic was 34.6 per cent down compared to the same week in 2019.

Public transport passengers reported increases in numbers this week, but government figures show patronage across the entire Adelaide Metro network year-on-year last week was down approximately 31.5 per cent because of closures of the Gawler rail line and parts of the Belair rail line.

Mr Southern said the increase in traffic last week compared to decreases every week after the pandemic hit.

“This is in stark contrast to traffic volumes throughout most of last year, where volumes were down almost every week after COVID restrictions began,’’ he said.

“This extra traffic coincides with the return to school last week, and people returning to work following the Australia Day public holiday.

“The current closure of the Gawler rail line could also account for some of this extra traffic.

“The Traffic Management Centre constantly monitors traffic volumes across the network and will make changes to traffic light sequencing where necessary to improve the flow of traffic.”

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