Your Say SA 2020: South Aussies demand: Get us home faster and safer
For many South Australians, it feels like the work commute is getting longer – and recent studies prove it true. But which areas are suffering the biggest case of motoring frustration?
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Addressing traffic congestion throughout Adelaide needs to factor in more than just motor vehicles, the state’s peak motoring body says.
Despite months of promises and a Federal Election with a strong focus on congestion busting infrastructure almost eight in 10 South Australians, that participated in the YourSay SA survey, said the issue was getting worse.
Frustration was even higher in the northern and southern suburbs.
RAA Senior Manager Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain said many key Adelaide thoroughfares were not coping with increases in traffic volumes.
He said studies had shown that of the seven major routes studied over the past decade, traffic moved slower on Brighton, Marion, Main North and North East roads, during both morning and afternoon peak periods.
“However, the North-South Corridor infrastructure projects – which includes the new Torrens-to-Torrens motorway and soon to be completed Darlington Interchange – will help improve traffic flow,’’ he said.
“We also need to look at extending clearway restrictions, which have worked on Greenhill Rd, and reducing congestion at key intersections such as Grand Junction and Main North Road.’’
Mr Mountain said better roads were only part of the congestion solution.
“We need to focus on all forms of public transport to encourage more people to use it, more often,’’ he said.
“We also need to encourage active transport such as cycling, walking and the use of personal mobility devices such as e-scooters for short trips so we can keep congestion in Adelaide at bay in the long-term.”
Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said the State Government is delivering billions of dollars of congestion busting infrastructure projects to reduce travel times.
“We are going to deliver the final stages of the North-South Corridor, upgrade seven intersections, remove two level crossings and upgrade public transport infrastructure,” Mr Knoll said.
“We are also delivering better public transport services because if we can encourage more people to catch a train, tram or bus, this will reduce congestion on our roads.
“We are electrifying the Gawler line, extending the Tonsley line and building Park n Rides along the O-Bahn.”
Mr Knoll said identified a number of ‘congestion busting infrastructure’ projects in the pipeline including fixes to notorious intersections in Trinity Gardens, Highgate, Daw Park, Parkside, Prospect, Northfield and Salisbury.
“Aside from our massive infrastructure investment, we are also delivering smaller initiatives to bust congestion such as extending clear way times and reviewing bus stops,” Mr Knoll said.
South Australia’s Local Government Association president Sam Telfer said councils were having to spend too much of ratepayers money on road fixes.
“Local government collects less than four per cent of taxation, and in South Australia maintains 75,000km of local roads,” Mr Telfer said.
“Unlike other spheres of government, councils can’t raise revenue for roads through fuel sales or vehicle registrations, so funding partnerships are critical.
“Increased investment in local government road projects would help address first and last mile access issues for freight providers, reducing local traffic congestion and unlocking the productivity of our State’s road transport network.”
REGIONAL ROADS NOT UP TO SCRATCH
South Australians feel the need for speed on regional roads – providing they are fixed.
Views on country roads have hardly changed in the past 12 months but less than 0.7 per cent of those who participated in the YourSay SA survey rated regional roads as excellent.
In fact, 58 per cent rated country roads as poor or very poor.
While 78 per cent say regional roads are not getting a fair share of transport funding.
South Australian Local Government Association president Sam Telfer said the state of our regional roads is an ongoing concern for South Australian councils and their communities.
“Adequate road infrastructure enhances accessibility, improves road safety, and supports the economy. Investment in productive infrastructure in regional areas has advantages for the whole state’s economy, which has its foundation in the regions.
“Also, two thirds of road deaths occur on regional roads, and upgrading our regional road network should be a priority and part of a strategic approach to improving road safety in our State.”
Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said the State Government is fixing over 1000km of regional roads across SA in a bid to boost jobs, build stronger regional communities and help save lives on our country roads.
“In our last State Budget we announced a record $1.115 billion for regional road and infrastructure upgrades and projects which we are now seeing come to fruition,” he said.
“In addition to our big regional road and infrastructure projects, we are fixing over 1,000km of SA’s 12,600km sealed regional road network over the next few years which need it most.”
In February, the Sunday Mail revealed regional leaders had joined forces with South Australia’s Local Government Association and the state’s peak motoring body, the RAA, calling for a fix to a crumbling rural road network that they said was risking lives.