Locals want lower speed limit for West St at Ascot Park, fearing rat-running will skyrocket amid South Rd roadworks

It’s been described as one of Adelaide’s most notorious rat-runs – and locals fear the “chaos” on this street will get worse as roadworks progress for South Rd.

The South Rd redevelopment could push more drivers onto a popular rat-run in Adelaide’s south, worsening what locals have described as a street’s dangerous conditions and “unbelievable” noise levels.

Local resident William Hannan has collected more than 100 signatures for a petition asking Marion Council to lower the speed limit on West St at Ascot Park from 50k/h to 40k/h in a bid to scare off rat-runners.

He said the “chaos” on the street would only get worse as roadworks progressed for the major South Rd construction project scheduled to finish by 2031.

“It’s scary for everybody that walks around here, that uses this street, that has to back out their driveways,” Mr Hannan said.

Locals on West St, Ascot Park, where they want the speed limit cut. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

The stretch is sandwiched between Railway Terrace and South Rd, making it an apparent alternative for motorists wanting to avoid the two thoroughfares.

“If they (motorists) get held up at the train line, they try and make up a couple of minutes by going flat-out through here,” he said.

“Then they get stuck at this intersection. People are on their horns and … the noise is unbelievable.”

The 63-year-old said he no longer used his main bedroom and lounge room “because the noise is that bad”.

Esther Hung, a 24-year-old Flinders Medical Centre nurse living on the street, said the noise made it almost impossible for her to sleep during the day after working night shifts.

“If you use Google Maps, you’ll find if you want to cross the railway, it directs most of the cars through this street,” she said.

“We have some motorbikes; they race through … and you hear them – they’re like the engine of an aeroplane.”

Yvonne Batistich, 89, said she counted 180 cars passing her house between 7.45am and 8.30am on Monday morning.

She said she could no longer cross the street because it was too busy.

Resident Yvonne Batistich, 89, at West St, Ascot Park. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The petition is backed by Frank Pangallo MLC, who said he would “rate this as one of the most notorious rat runs in Adelaide”.

Earlier this month, police fined an SUV driver who failed to give way and collided with a sedan on West St. A police spokeswoman said there were no injuries.

Locals said it was one of multiple recent crashes on the street.

A Marion Council spokesman said the council last year endorsed the installation of speed bumps on the street, which was subject to grant funding.

“We are awaiting advice from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport on the outcome,” he said.

“West St is currently operating within safe and acceptable traffic conditions.”

The spokesman said DIT would need to assess and approve any request for the street’s speed limit to change.

The petition has not yet been presented to Marion Council.

Originally published as Locals want lower speed limit for West St at Ascot Park, fearing rat-running will skyrocket amid South Rd roadworks