Truck breakdown on Freeway causes havoc in Monday peak hour traffic

A broken-down truck that caused peak-hour traffic chaos around the SE Freeway and nearby major roads on Monday – with people stuck for hours – has sparked fury among motorists. Were you affected?

Motorists are furious after another truck breakdown on the South Eastern Freeway caused widespread delays during Monday’s peak, sparking calls to ban trucks from the busy thoroughfare at certain periods of the day.

The truck stopped on the Freeway uptrack at Mount Osmond on Monday evening just as homeward-bound traffic began.

TELL US: Were you affected? Join the conversation by adding your comments below

Glen Osmond and Portrush roads also were backed up as far as Greenhill Road, and Cross Road was at a standstill from Fullarton Road.

And traffic was slow on Greenhill Road from Hallett Road at Stonyfell up to Mt Lofty as motorists attempted to avoid the Freeway slowdown.

According to SA Police, the delay between the intersection of Bevington Road and Glen Osmond Road, at Glenunga, and the start of the Freeway was 37 minutes at about 6pm.

There was a further 38-minute delay between the start of the Freeway and the Heysen Tunnels, police said.

SA Police reported at 9.45pm that the truck had been towed and the road was once again clear.

But some Hills residents reported a three-hour trip home from the city due to the accident.

In a statement, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said the road was being upgraded.

“We fully understand the frustration of motorists on the SE Freeway last night,” he said.

“I directed the department to look at the options available for responding to incidents like this whilst we are undertaking the long-awaited resurfacing works.

“As a result, a tow-truck will be on standby for both light and heavy vehicles until the project is complete.”

One motorist took to Advertiser.com.au with their frustration, saying it was beyond time to examine the use of arterial routes by heavy vehicles during peak periods.

The view of the traffic jam from a bus stuck on Glen Osmond Rd, near the city. Picture: Ryan Pi

“There is no reason for interstate haulage to start an overnight trip during peak,” they said.

“I was lucky, I was on the motorcycle and could safely filter the traffic crawl,” Vroom@the — track wrote.

Another reader, Marc, said trucks should be banned during certain periods.

“I think a lot of the delays on the freeway could be solved by banning large trucks from the freeway for a short time each weekday during peak periods in the mornings and afternoons.”

But reader Rachael said banning trucks was not an option: “To all of you proposing to ban trucks, there are more legitimate reasons for trucks to be on the freeway – at any time of the day – than there are for you to be commuting in your car in peak hour. Stagger your start time. Catch the bus. Lobby your local member to fight for proper public transport for hills residents. Live closer to work or work closer to home. But no, you want to ban trucks or spend squillions of public money building new roads. Some perspective is in order!”

The freeway chaos was one of five major breakdowns – usually involving trucks – which has caused heavy delays on the road in the past year, which include:

A TRUCK that caught fire on July 23 near the Mount Osmond exit at 3am, causing delays until the afternoon.

ANOTHER truck caught fire on January 26 in the afternoon causing traffic problems until about 9pm that night.

IN THE same week, a car caught fire about 2pm January 30 which caused delays into the late afternoon.

THOUSANDS of chickens perished in a truck fire on the freeway on August 24, which caused significant traffic delays.

Buses stuck on Glen Osmond Rd, near the city, due to the SE Freeway chaos. Picture: Ryan Pi

And A Woke Bloke posted: “These things happen and it is how we deal with them that is the issue. We came down the freeway at around 5.30 and saw the problem. The truck broken down right beside a large road resurfacing machine. Major incidents on busy freeways occur around the world and emergency teams respond quickly to clear the way. Why did it take so long last night to get a broken down vehicle pulled out of the way?????. That is the question. Forget banning vehicles and building multi billion dollar alternative routes.”

While reader Margaret suggested a fast-rail link from Mt Barker was the solution: “Commuter traffic from those rapidly expanding hills towns was always going to outstrip the capacity of the SE Freeway to cope with it. Just one accident or breakdown and you get a massive delay as a result. The problem is obvious now and authorities ought to have seen it coming a long time ago and made adequate provisions for infrastructure that could cope. A fast rail link from Mt Barker would solve the problem, but it’s going to be expensive, if it ever gets built, and will take a long time to complete.”

While reader Dale suggested a toll be implemented: “If you use the road more than 4 times a week during peak periods, perhaps a toll also. The number of cars using the road is the issue with so much housing in the hills going on. I’m fairly sure the freeway was upgraded because of freight and the fact we needed 3 lanes to avoid any congestion since when there was an accident, traffic completely stopped. Now with everyone wanting to live in the hills and commute to work, they have taken up the 3rd lane.”

The State Government announced they would invest $12 million into a north-to-south freight route between Murray Bridge and Annadale, bypassing Adelaide, in an effort to get trucks off the freeway in June last year.

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