Southern Expressway Duplication....Impact on cyclists

Last Saturday morning there was an open day to view plans for the Southern Expressway Duplication. In the end I spent about 2 hours talking to different people and looking at the plans.

Over the next year and a half the duplication will have a big impact on cyclist using the Veloway and the Coast to Vines Trail. The finished result will mean better infrastructure for cyclist. But in the interim, cyclist I believe, are in for a hellish time.

I spoke to one of the spokespersons, a keen cyclist, and mentioned to him my concerns how the duplication will impact on cyclist and how they should keep the cycling public up to date on closures and diversions. I have since found out that AC and BISA are both forums they are looking at.

I will give you a basic outline of how the duplication will impact on cyclist.

In Darlington the current shared use path on the western side of the expressway will be removed and be used as the off ramp for cars to exit onto Marion Rd. Sound proof walls up to 4 metres will be build as a divider between the current houses and the new off ramp. The current Veloway north of Secombe Rd will become a shared use path. This will affect about 300-400 metres of the current Veloway. Certainly not an ideal set up as cyclist travel at high speed on the decent.

Bridge extensions will possibly effect cyclist by causing closures and deviations. From May to November they will be working jointly on every second bridge. For example Darlington, miss Majors, Lander, miss Young St etc all the way along. Glenthorn Path bridge just south of Majors Rd will be removed completely.

Where the Coast to Vines trail goes through the tunnel to Panalatinga Rd, a fly over on the side of the new bridge will be built for cyclists. On Majors Rd emergency vehicles will now have an on ramp that will cut over the Veloway heading south. The Veloway at Beach Rd will have some interesting twists and turns.

One thing I was really pleased about was the proposed leisure trail the full length of the Expressway on the western side. A rubble surface. I was told that a lot of the dirt tracks they are making along side the extension for access will be come part of the trail.

So cyclist, if your a regular user of the Veloway and Coast to Vines trail be prepared for some interruptions over the next 18 months.

For more detail about cyclist and pedestrian detours please call the project information line 1300 626 097, or email dpti.southernexpressway@sa.gov.au. Additional Project information can also be found at www.infrastrucutre.sa.gov.au  

Tags: DPTI, Duplication, Expressway, Southern

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wayne Horslen on April 3, 2012 at 14:15

I heard the tunnels near Lander rd are going but was unsure of how you were suppose to get across to the Western side to the Sheidow Park and Hallett Cove bike track 

Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on April 3, 2012 at 14:31

@ Wayne...if the tunnels go....where will we meet???

 

Thanks for that Trevor.  Heard about the open days but didnt have time to get along.

I notice they have put bunting around large areas where the bikeway goes under beach rd at morphett vale.  I thought the expansion was on the other side, but if not large chunks will be disappearing.

Looking forward to the finished job - hopefully they will resurface the whole thing SOB style.....but unlikely.

Other than that it may be a cyclocross bike for the next 18 months!

Permalink Reply by Wayne Horslen on April 3, 2012 at 14:39
@Matt We will need a new place to meet, Much easier to say at the tunnels @ 7
Permalink Reply by Adam Brown on April 3, 2012 at 16:40

I for one am glad to see the tunnels go - I've witnessed and experienced too many near misses due to the lack of visibility where the two tunnels meet.

Permalink Reply by colin ware-lane on April 3, 2012 at 22:24

not a lack of visability causing the problem but cyclists not slowing down enough to make sure its clear to pull out

Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on April 4, 2012 at 10:12

yep - most people dont slow down enough there.....or notice the giveway sign.

Permalink Reply by heather on April 3, 2012 at 15:00

Do you have a link to the plans?

Permalink Reply by Wayne Horslen on April 3, 2012 at 15:03
Permalink Reply by Trevor Hill on April 3, 2012 at 16:20

Thanks for the plans, the ones on Saturday where even more up to date showing all the detail with the fly overs, new on/off ramps, bridge closures, route for western leisure trail etc.

Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on April 3, 2012 at 15:18

looks like there are a few flyovers at beach road. 

That will be some interesting ups and downs on a shared path.

Permalink Reply by Rich on April 3, 2012 at 15:18

Hopefully they do a better job than the current situation due to the railway extension at Seaford!

Permalink Reply by Dahondude on April 3, 2012 at 15:53

From the DTEI website
"a slightly realigned  "in sections“ Patrick Jonker Veloway and Bikeway to maximise rider experience and safety in light of a wider expressway"

And a PDF I downloaded from their website

"The land to the western (and northern) side of the expressway through Darlington and Bedford Park
was reserved by the State Government for the duplication at the time of Stage 1 and Stage 2
construction, in 1997 and 2001. The existing expressway was located as far east and south as
possible (south of Marion Road Bridge) to provide the maximum available space in the road reserve for
the future duplication.
Therefore, the new northbound carriageway will be constructed to the west of the existing expressway,
with the existing expressway becoming southbound travel only.
The alignment option from Seacombe Road through the escarpment to north of Majors Road has also
been revised. The first concept suggested building this section of the new carriageway to the east to
avoid the rock on the western side. However, feedback from construction contractors suggests there
are advantages in continuing the carriageway to the west through the escarpment, with access and
processing of the high-grade rock for the use in construction of the road. This shift also avoids building near the 2.1 metre diameter water pipe located in this area, and complex road matching between the
new and the existing carriageways."

and

"2.3.6 Pedestrian and cycling
At various locations along the expressway, the Veloway and Patrick Jonker (Shared) Pathway will
need to be modified to suit the new duplicated expressway. The most significant changes occur around
the Reynella Interchange where the Sea and Vines Pathway will be taken up and over the expressway
to match into the Patrick Jonker Pathway. This pathway will also be modified to allow the new
northbound on-ramp.
The expressway currently has many informal, unsealed pathways on the western side. Where
possible, these pathways will be preserved or relocated as part of the works. Opportunities to extend
or enhance these pathways will be investigated as part of the final design."

The project is due to run for several years (2012-2014)

Go to the DTEI website for more information than you can ever hope to want

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