[COM] Southern Expressway Duplication | $445m | 22km

[85trainfan]

I managed to get along on Sunday, It was a good setup.
Under the new Reynella on ramp there was stalls setup which had, community groups Eg:lions clubs, rotary , southern junction etc., Face painters and balloon people, the two councils whose area the expressway passes through (Marion & Onkaparinga), The developers and construction companies, The South Adelaide football club had a hand ball competition, a Stage was setup under the bridge itself, and various construction equipment used on the project.
we parked just north of O'Sullivan Beach rd and caught the shuttle bus to the hub. Corstens from Two wells were the bus providers on the Southern runs. The bus had designated stops about every 300mtrs. the bus ran down the current side, got of at Beach rd, the went down the new Beach rd off ramp (after doing a 4 point turn as the buses couldn't negotiate the tight bend) then along the new section to the event hub.
The project team were still saying mid July for opening. There's still a lot of sealing works to be done. Between Beach rd and O'Sullivan Beach rd is done, apart from the Christie creek bridge. The New on/off ramps at beach rd and Sherrifs rd need to be sealed, the big bridge at Reynella (cant remember it's name ) needs its final seal, while the section from there to young street only has its first coat. When open, it will be at a lower speed for the first few weeks so a skid Resistance can be built into the surface. The surface there using on the top coat can only be laid when the temperature is 15c or higher, and lets the water run through so puddles arnt formed on the road surface.
When i can remember my flicker password, i will add some pictures

[ChillyPhilly]

Consistent with what I heard. Good job recapping it, look forward to the pictures.

[neoballmon]

I also went to the community day on Sunday, nothing much to add onto what Jarrod's already said. I also parked down near O'Sullivans Beach Road, and there was a bit of confusion with the guy at our stop, he thought we had to get on a bus that was heading North, but all North buses were on the new roadway, he later called and found out we get on a Southbound bus and turn around at Noarlunga. Otherwise the event seemed to be very well managed. I would have liked to get there earlier and be able to take one of the tour buses though (guided half hour tours, as opposed to the shuttle buses) but oh well.


Also went along the whole length of the expressway tonight, and took note of how the current side was going. All the new road surface was laid, except at the start and end (and most likely Reynella Interchance). The entire centre wall was built, except for a small section between the Reynella Interchange and Young Street.

Almost all of the expressway is 80km/h now, only exceptions being 60km/h at all of the interchanges, and dropping to 40km/h between Reynella Interchange and Young Street where they've recently put in another section of the wall.

Many Gantry sign poles are erect, and just waiting on the sign to be placed on, most likely not until soon before the official opening. Signs were apparently installed on Marion Road last weekend, and will be installed this weekend at both ends of South Road, with quite significant lane disruptions.

Main South Road, Old Noarlunga
Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction between River Road and the Southern Expressway entrance and speed restrictions in place on Saturday, 21 June 2014, between 8.00 pm and 9.00 am and on Saturday, 28 June 2014, between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm.

Main South Road, Darlington
South bound traffic reduced to one lane adjacent the work site (just south of Flinders Drive) and speed restrictions in place on Sunday, 29 June 2014, between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm. Northbound traffic will be unaffected. Access to Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders University, local businesses and residential areas will remain unaffected via Flinders Drive.

[85trainfan]

Now for some of the pictures. I was using an older manual lens that I haven't used in a while (well actually never, apart from when I first got the camera, but other lens is cactus so this had to do), so some may be a bit out of focus
Looking South from the New Off ramp @ Beach Road


Looking North from the Beach Road Bridge towards the Elizabeth Road bridge.


Glenhelan Path, with water artwork.


The O'Sullivan Beach Road Bridge, now painted so it doesn't look mismatched.


Our Chariot to the Event Hub


Australian Bush Themed artwork on the southern side of the New Reynella On ramp.


The Curve in the Bridge for the new On Ramp.


Some of the Construction Machinery used in the construction process.


The Noarlunga SES display.

[[Shuz]]

I sincerely hope that they have factored in for adding a third lane to the expressway in future from the Reynella Interchange to the Old Noarlunga exit?

It would be an incredibly colossal waste of money having rebuilt all these bridges and doing the duplication work if the provision for a third lane wasn't provided?

[neoballmon]

Where I was parked at the community day, the median was probably the width of another 2 lanes, but I'm pretty sure it narrows out in a lot of places as well, so I doubt the whole corridor is wide enough.
I don't want to say they're not, but I'm pretty sure most of the bridges aren't long enough..


I think they also should have added a 4th Lane on the southbound uphill, two left lanes for heavy vehicles and two lanes for fast flowing traffic. When a heavy vehicle uses the middle Lane at 60 to overtake a slower heavy vehicle, this only leaves one fast flowing Lane being filled with people that don't want to be behind the truck.
I noticed the other night that there is sufficient room to achieve this up to majors road.

[drsmith]

Video of the route showing construction of the duplication.

Construction looks fairly well advanced so it could have been from last summer.



Road Tube has a number of other time lapse drives including Port Wakefield to Adelaide in approximately 7-minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RoadTubeRichard/videos

[muzzamo]

The site tour that I went on during the weekend was hosted by one of the head honchos of the site (Site director or head project manager or something). He made a point of saying that the emergency lanes were constructed wide enough to facilitate a third lane using hard shoulder running.

[alexczarn]

The site tour that I went on during the weekend was hosted by one of the head honchos of the site (Site director or head project manager or something). He made a point of saying that the emergency lanes were constructed wide enough to facilitate a third lane using hard shoulder running.

So basically they could widen to 3 lanes in the future if needed?

[ChillyPhilly]

As predictable, the completed SExy will not be open until August. So basically a delay of a couple weeks.

http://www.news.com.au/national/south-a ... 6983270157

[neoballmon]

Noticed lines have been painted right at the southern entrance on the northbound lanes now.

[neoballmon]

Received mail today regarding the expressway. There was a poster enclosed showing diagrams of all the intersections, showing how to use them with the new changes, and a notice explaining current works. There's also a few aerial pictures of the duplicated expressway at a few points.

It will be closed from Friday morning until late Sunday for interchange modifications, with delays on adjacent roads during.

Although it doesn't say specifically, it makes it look like the expressway will be open in both directions once this work in complete.

There seem to be a few extra sets of traffic lights around now.
On Marion Road, there are 2 sets for traffic heading south. The first I can see if for people turning right off the expressway. I can't actually work out why the other set is there (next to the entrance lights)
And there's also lights for turning from South Road (northbound) onto the expressway, as opposed to merging with traffic from Panalatinga Road.
Beach Road obviously has a full traffic light system as well, and the new alignment of Brodie Road North adds in a set.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures.
http://i.imgur.com/zLAKqHc.jpg Hackham/Noarlunga (Honeypot Road and Pedestrian bridges)
http://i.imgur.com/8hfQhqO.jpg Old Noarlunga
http://i.imgur.com/8eNYt65.jpg Various shots
http://i.imgur.com/cZaN23t.jpg Southern Interchanges
http://i.imgur.com/ag9NAXw.jpg Northern Interchanges

[Norman]

The guide is also available online:
http://dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf ... way_A4.pdf

[muzzamo]

And there's also lights for turning from South Road (northbound) onto the expressway, as opposed to merging with traffic from Panalatinga Road.

I'm quite disappointed that there is no left turn here off the expressway either. Surely this could have been done without too much additional cost?

[neoballmon]

And there's also lights for turning from South Road (northbound) onto the expressway, as opposed to merging with traffic from Panalatinga Road.

I'm quite disappointed that there is no left turn here off the expressway either. Surely this could have been done without too much additional cost?

I think land would have had to be raised a bit for that from memory of the section, but still would have been very easy to complete. Left turns may still be legal there.

I also thought they were adding a left turn lane on South road at Darlington for northbound traffic to enter.
There's quite a few properties between flagstaff Hill Road and this entrance, that would benefit from this. Hopefully they at least make left turns legal there now.

I know it was restricted because it would have meant there would have to be signage facing northbound traffic which would be a waste of money for a small amount of vehicles.