Drivers braced for wild delays as elephant Burma touched down, but smooth traffic flow made the trip quicker than expected

A peak hour nightmare was on the cards as Monarto Safari Park’s new Asian elephant touched down, but a smoother than thought ride welcomed the newest herd member of SA.

Fear of jumbo-sized peak hour traffic jams as Burma the elephant arrived in Adelaide evaporated as her trip from Adelaide Airport to her new home at Monarto Safari Park went surprisingly smoothly.

The convey with Burma enclosed out of sight in a crate caused no traffic problems as it wound its way up through the suburbs and up the freeway.

The plane carrying 42-year-old Burma touched down about 3.30pm after a 4.5 hour flight from Auckland with plenty of interested onlookers at the airport hoping to catch a glimpse — but with no luck.

More onlookers clustered on bridges on the route keen to enjoy the excitement of the first of five elephants to arrive at Monarto.

A police escort assisted with the move on the 73km journey from the airport to Burma’s new home, with the convoy restricted to 80km/h. Well publicised warnings about the convoy may have helped with traffic flow as people who were able to avoid the area at the time did so.

TOUCHDOWN: Asian elephant Burma has arrived in Adelaide after a mammoth journey from Auckland. Peak-hour traffic delays are expected as she heads to her new Monarto Safari Park home with a police escort in tow. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/1AdmrJMIEa

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) November 12, 2024

Burma was joined by a vet and keepers from Auckland Zoo, who travelled with her and will be “staying on for as long as required”, Zoos SA told The Advertiser.

The plane carrying Burma the Elephant has touched down in Adelaide. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Burma the elephant arrives in Adelaide from Auckland Zoo. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Burma the elephant has arrived in Adelaide from Auckland Zoo. Picture: ZoosSA

Crowds gathered to welcome Burma to Adelaide. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Crowds at Adelaide Airport. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

Burma the Elephant will touch down in Adelaide on Tuesday. Picture: Auckland Zoo

Drivers are being warned to brace for delays as she makes the move to Monarto. Picture: Supplied/Auckland Zoo

In a post to social media, police had warned, “the truck will be travelling at a lower speed limit, especially as it will be peak hour traffic on Glen Osmond Rd”.

The Heysen Tunnels were reduced to one lane to accommodate the truck as it moved through.

Other roads affected were Sir Donald Bradman Drive and Marion, Richmond and Greenhill roads.

The elephant transfer forms part of a triple-whammy of traffic delays to hit Hills commuters on Tuesday.

Morning inbound traffic was at a standstill on the South Eastern Freeway following two separate collisions just after 7.10am – one just after Hahndorf and the other at Bridgewater.

One caller told FIVEAA it was the longest traffic jam she’d ever seen – measuring about 8km long.

Meanwhile, the Adelaide 500 road closures are also causing traffic snarls.

An RAA analysis found median travel times have blown out to as much as 40 minutes along key routes east of the CBD, hit by road closures. This year is worse than 2023 for traffic and commuter impact around the city fringe precinct.

Originally published as Drivers braced for wild delays as elephant Burma touched down, but smooth traffic flow made the trip quicker than expected