News & Discussion: O-Bahn

[Kasey771]

Ornamental arching is now being installed on both ends.

Happy Days! Once the 'pretties' go on it must be close to opening?

[The Scooter Guy]

Ornamental arching is now being installed on both ends.

Happy Days! Once the 'pretties' go on it must be close to opening?

Hopefully in time for the last two weeks of the Xmas Shopping period.

[Norman]

O-Bahn: December 10 party to celebrate opening of tunnel to ease frustrated bus passengers
MILES KEMP, EXCLUSIVE, Sunday Mail (SA)
21 minutes ago

ADELAIDE’S East End traffic logjam will end next month with a party to celebrate the opening of the parklands O-Bahn tunnel.

The community event will be in Rymill Park on Sunday, December 10, between 11am and 3pm.

The public will be able to walk through the 670m tunnel and, pending last-minute issues, it will open to bus traffic several days later.

Critics have attacked the $160 million “O-Bahn City Access Project” — a dedicated bus tunnel linking Hackney Rd to Grenfell St — because it will cut only seven minutes on average from the commute to the city.

But during times of high congestion, outbound buses can take 20 minutes to travel from the eastern end of Grenfell St to past the Hackney Rd/North Terrace intersection, Transport Department figures show.

It is estimated about 79,000 vehicle commuters will also experience less congestion, especially at the North Tce-Hackney Rd intersection and around East Tce near Rundle Rd and North Tce.

As well as the opportunity to walk through the tunnel, the party will have entertainment, free children’s activities, exhibitions, and food and drink stalls.

Rundle St and East Tce traders will be among those running the food stalls and vans, and a sausage sizzle will raise funds for the Hutt Street Centre.

Free O-Bahn services to and from the event will run between 10am and 4pm.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the project had supported 450 jobs, providing employment to South Australians in the construction, professional and technical services industries. The project was also on budget, he said.

“More than 660,000 on-site construction hours have been worked on the project, which commenced in March last year,” Mr Mullighan said.

“The tunnel will improve travel times and reliability for Adelaide’s busiest public transport network, which is used by more than 31,000 people each weekday.”

Other road users would also benefit from the project, especially in the future as more emphasis was placed on the inner-city ring road of which Hackney Rd is a part, Mr Mullighan said.

“The project will also improve travel times and reliability for more than 79,000 road users who use this part of the inner ring route each weekday, at the intersection of Hackney Rd and North Tce,” he said.

“The community fun day is an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for their patience during the construction of the O-Bahn tunnel, from local businesses and residents to our O-Bahn passengers and motorists.”

[timtam20292]

[Kasey771]

The only way to improve our road network and reduce congestion is to remove vehicles from it. This tunnel will do more than just take a few minutes off the O-bahn journey. It removes many large vehicles from the Hackney Road/North Terrace intersection.
I predict it will lead to improvements in travel time for those driving in from the Eastern Suburbs especially during morning peak. City traders should be happy that it is opening in time for the Christmas shopping period (and of course the election..but shhh)

[The Scooter Guy]

O-Bahn: December 10 party to celebrate opening of tunnel to ease frustrated bus passengers
MILES KEMP, EXCLUSIVE, Sunday Mail (SA)
21 minutes ago

ADELAIDE’S East End traffic logjam will end next month with a party to celebrate the opening of the parklands O-Bahn tunnel.

The community event will be in Rymill Park on Sunday, December 10, between 11am and 3pm.

The public will be able to walk through the 670m tunnel and, pending last-minute issues, it will open to bus traffic several days later.

Critics have attacked the $160 million “O-Bahn City Access Project” — a dedicated bus tunnel linking Hackney Rd to Grenfell St — because it will cut only seven minutes on average from the commute to the city.

But during times of high congestion, outbound buses can take 20 minutes to travel from the eastern end of Grenfell St to past the Hackney Rd/North Terrace intersection, Transport Department figures show.

It is estimated about 79,000 vehicle commuters will also experience less congestion, especially at the North Tce-Hackney Rd intersection and around East Tce near Rundle Rd and North Tce.

As well as the opportunity to walk through the tunnel, the party will have entertainment, free children’s activities, exhibitions, and food and drink stalls.

Rundle St and East Tce traders will be among those running the food stalls and vans, and a sausage sizzle will raise funds for the Hutt Street Centre.

Free O-Bahn services to and from the event will run between 10am and 4pm.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the project had supported 450 jobs, providing employment to South Australians in the construction, professional and technical services industries. The project was also on budget, he said.

“More than 660,000 on-site construction hours have been worked on the project, which commenced in March last year,” Mr Mullighan said.

“The tunnel will improve travel times and reliability for Adelaide’s busiest public transport network, which is used by more than 31,000 people each weekday.”

Other road users would also benefit from the project, especially in the future as more emphasis was placed on the inner-city ring road of which Hackney Rd is a part, Mr Mullighan said.

“The project will also improve travel times and reliability for more than 79,000 road users who use this part of the inner ring route each weekday, at the intersection of Hackney Rd and North Tce,” he said.

“The community fun day is an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for their patience during the construction of the O-Bahn tunnel, from local businesses and residents to our O-Bahn passengers and motorists.”

Another opportunity to take lots of photos for the State Library of SA's Archives!

[adelaide transport]

According to Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan this afternoon bus services will begin using the new O-Bahn tunnel after the O-Bahn party and tunnel walk through is over.
Expect to see more info/new timetables on the Adelaide Metro website in the next couple of weeks.

[monotonehell]

There's a load of roadworks happening along East Tce between North Tce and Grenfell Street tonight. I think it's the final bits and pieces for the tunnel exit.

[adelaide transport]

Driver training for the new O-Bahn tunnel began today-I guess in preparation for the opening of the tunnel to regular services-no official date yet-keeping it under wraps?

[Norman]

Driver training for the new O-Bahn tunnel began today-I guess in preparation for the opening of the tunnel to regular services-no official date yet-keeping it under wraps?

The start date will probably be announced on the community day (10 December). Pollies love announcements.

[EBG]

Some metal sculpture loops have been installed at the western end of the tunnel in the parklands and are about to be installed at the northern entrance on hackney road. Sorry no pictures

[timtam20292]

Driver training for the new O-Bahn tunnel began today-I guess in preparation for the opening of the tunnel to regular services-no official date yet-keeping it under wraps?

The start date will probably be announced on the community day (10 December). Pollies love announcements.

From their FaceBook announcement about the community day.

Buses will begin using the tunnel soon after this community fun day.

Not sure if they mean later that day or the next few days.

[PeFe]

Proposal to extend the O-Bahn from Tea Tree Plaza to Golden Grove using a widened Golden Grove Road.
From The Advertiser

O-Bahn extension will mean buses take passengers from city to Golden Grove in Adelaide’s northeast

THE O-Bahn busway would be extended from Tea Tree Plaza to Golden Grove in a proposal to better connect Adelaide’s outer northeast with the CBD.

The project, beginning with an eight-month feasibility study costing $500,000 to be announced today, would be the most significant upgrade to the renowned O-Bahn system since it was built in 1986.

“The study will assess potential routes, engineering requirements and likely demand for the proposed extension, as well as undertake detailed economic and financial modelling,’’ Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said.



The project will mirror the dedicated O-Bahn-only track between Tea Tree Plaza and Gilberton, as well as improvements to the road network to give buses uninterrupted journeys from Golden Grove Village to the Tea Tree Plaza interchange. The Advertiser understands the likely route will be on Golden Grove Road, which was purpose-built to be wider than needed to accommodate future traffic flow.

The extension is half as long as the existing O-Bahn line, which will allow an almost uninterrupted commute from Modbury to the city when the tunnel through the parklands is opened next month.

Full article : http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 463fea4a18

Stupid headline......the buses already go to Golden grove....just not on a dedicated track.

[[Shuz]]

I thought the land corridor had already been preserved for the OBahn extension to Golden Grove.

You can see it on Google Maps - veering left just before Grenfell Road through the park and onto Avalon Drive through to the Golden Grove Shopping Centre.

[Norman]

I think part of the study will determine whether to have bus lanes or a track.

8 months is enough time for this to be included in the next state budget of it goes ahead.