$30m roundabout for notorious intersection at Curtis and Heaslip roads, Angle Vale

It’s the intersection that gives locals PTSD because of all the crashes – now it’s getting a long-awaited $30m upgrade after years of complaints. See the plans.

A new $30m roundabout is proposed for the intersection of Heaslip and Curtis roads in Angle Vale. Picture: DIT

One of the most notorious intersections in Adelaide will get a $30m safety upgrade after years of tireless campaigning by locals.

A new dual-lane roundabout will be built at the intersection of Curtis and Heaslip roads at Angle Vale to improve safety and ease congestion amid rapidly expanding residential developments in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Locals including former Playford councillor Cathy-Jo Tame have long campaigned for a safety fix for the intersection, which the RAA named Adelaide’s riskiest in 2021.

She said it was vital the roundabout had two lanes.

A new $30m roundabout is proposed for the intersection of Heaslip and Curtis roads in Angle Vale.

“There’s been so many accidents and near fatalities in that area, it’s just chaotic,” Ms Tame said.

“The councillors have been fighting for upgrades – we needed a roundabout for people’s safety. But all the voices have finally been heard.”

MacDonald Park resident Bronwyn Coulter, who started a petition calling for upgrades, said she was “overwhelmed” by the news.

“I’m very excited to hear that, it’s just one of the areas we’ve been lobbying for – there are multiple areas that need addressing because there’s so much growth, 10 people a day are moving in to the Playford area, over the next 20 years.

The aftermath of a crash at the intersection of Heaslip and Curtis Road, Angle Vale. Picture Jason Katsaras

In May, the state government announced nearly $60m for water and sewer upgrades for about 1400 homes that are yet to be built across five Angle Vale developments.

“There’s been no money spent on the roads and we’ve had significant growth. And there have been multiple accidents at that intersection, and deaths over the year,” Ms Coulter said.

She said the area had experienced a crash a week over the past 12 or so month, one with three crash in one week.

“People are suffering PTSD because of that intersection, other people go well out of their way and use backstreets to avoid it, so I’m very happy.”

The roundabout will be jointly paid for by the state and federal governments under a 50-50 split.

Work is expected to start in 2025.

RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain welcomed the upgrade.

“The most commonly raised concerns at this spot are lack of crossing or turning opportunities, the fact there are no traffic signals and on top of that the surface has been in poor condition,” he said.

“We encourage road users to nominate other unsafe roads or intersections as part of RAA’s 2024 Risky Roads survey.”

State Housing Minister Nick Champion said the upgrade was a priority because the intersection was already experiencing “considerable congestion”

“It’s a problem that is only going to get worse as more people,” he said.

Federal Infrastructure Catherine King said: “Right now, our cities and towns need more homes, and we need the infrastructure that turns those homes into communities.

“The Angle Vale intersection will not only alleviate congestion and improve road safety, but make new residential housing in the area more accessible.”

Originally published as $30m roundabout for notorious intersection at Curtis and Heaslip roads, Angle Vale