Southern Expressway use up by two thirds since duplication

More than 26,000 extra vehicles are using the Southern Expressway on weekdays since the State Government completed the duplication of the road.

The Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said before the duplication, 39,690 vehicles were using the expressway on weekdays.

“In the year since we completed the project and opened the two-way expressway to the public, weekday usage has jumped to 66,130,” Mr Mullighan said.

“The bulk of the increase has been on city-bound trips, with the figure jumping from 20,164 before the duplication in 2010 to 35,210 this year.

“Southbound trips have also gone up substantially, from 19,526 in 2010 to 30,920 this year.” Mr Mullighan said overall the increase in weekday trips had jumped by more than 66 percent.

Local Member for Reynell, Katrine Hildyard, said that there had been a significant decrease in traffic on arterial roads in the southern suburbs.

“This is great for our local southern community and a good indication that the Southern Expressway is achieving its goal of drawing in vehicles travelling longer distances, in turn freeing up space on South Road for local traffic.” Ms Hildyard said.

“We have seen a reduction of traffic on South Road near O’Halloran Hill with 45 percent fewer vehicles travelling on this road.”

The $407 million Southern Expressway duplication project was opened last August, 15 years after the Liberal Party built the one-way motorway.

Local Member for Kaurna, Chris Picton, said that the one-way Southern Expressway was previously a source of embarrassment and frustration for southern suburbs motorists.

“Now that the Labor Government has fixed the short-sighted Liberal’s half-complete project, local commuters and tradies, freight operators and all other road users are reaping the rewards,” Mr Picton said.

The Southern Expressway will link into the $620 million Darlington Upgrade, which is due to get underway late this year.

Source: News Release, Government of South Australia, 08 August, 2015

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/images/news_releases/2015/15_08Aug/southernexpressway.pdf