South Eastern Freeway: Video flythrough gives first look of third lane between Crafers and Stirling
A video has been released of a flythrough showing the third lane planned for the South Eastern Freeway, which promises to tackle hated peak-hour congestion.
SA News
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Long-suffering Adelaide Hills motorists have been given their first look at what engineers say will solve a notorious bottleneck on the South Eastern Freeway.
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has released a Transport Department flythrough of the promised each-way third lane on the freeway between Stirling and Crafers.
About 54,000 vehicles use the stretch of freeway each day, and that number is expected to increase further as the population in the Hills, Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend continues to grow.
Long thought to be too expensive to be worth constructing, the $14.2 million breakthrough solution swallows up emergency lanes to cut costs, requiring less road widening works.
Much of the expense will be a sophisticated control system that can close the third lane as soon as it is needed to be returned to an emergency lane in a breakdown or for an emergency vehicle.
“If there are issues and incidents on the section, we can keep traffic moving by giving motorists clear directions about which lanes to use,’’ Mr Knoll said.
If Mount Barker’s booming population creates a freeway bottleneck similar to the one being removed, Mr Knoll said the lane system could be extended through to Mount Barker.
The flythrough shows the upgrade incorporating the following works:
• road shoulder widening to allow three trafficable lanes on both the eastbound and westbound side of the Freeway;
• upgraded road lighting for the extent of the works;
• relocation of safety barrier;
• improved drainage;
• upgrading pavement and new bitumen surfacing;
• audio tactile line marking and pavement marking;
• automated incident detection using Video Automated Incident Detection technology; and
• associated ITS Infrastructure including CCTV and variable speed limit signage.
Speed limits will not be affected.
The project is jointly funded by the state and federal governments.