An innovative new loop design will ensure a commitment to retain right turns onto South Road from Anzac Highway will be met while easing congestion and allowing scope for projected increasing future traffic volumes.
Labor's commitment to retain right-turn capacity from Anzac Highway onto South Road – after right-turn lanes were removed in the Liberals' original design concept - will now be fulfilled by loop exit roads, rather than a right-turn onto South Road from traffic lights on Anzac Highway.
Under the updated plan, motorists will be able to continue through the intersection before turning left to then loop back onto South Road. This movement will maintain access to important local destinations such as Black Forest Primary School and Tennyson Medical Centre.
This design innovation will ensure motorists wanting to turn right onto South Road do not need to spend long periods of time waiting at a red light in the intersection.
It will also future-proof the intersection, with the likelihood that increased traffic volumes in future years could create long queues at the right-turning lanes.
The new design will mean traffic turning from Anzac Highway onto South Road no longer needs to stop at traffic lights, reducing wait times and considerably improving the overall traffic performance of the intersection.
Traffic modelling of the benefits of this enhancement indicates a travel time saving of approximately two minutes on average for the approximately 3,500 vehicles per hour travelling along Anzac Highway between Marion Road and Greenhill Road during peak hours.
The new layout will maintain full pedestrian access while reducing potential hazards, and improve the overall efficiency of the intersection by allowing more time for traffic moving along Anzac Highway.
The enhanced design also reduces the amount of modification works needed on the existing Gallipoli Underpass.
As put by Tom Koutsantonis
This design enhancement shows what can be done when principle meets innovation.
We always promised to return the capacity to turn right and merge onto a non-stop South Road from Anzac Highway, but retaining right-turn lanes would inevitably lead to extensive queueing during peak hours, and as traffic volumes increase with time.
This new solution eliminates that problem, ensuring cars turning right don't need to stop at traffic lights on Anzac Highway – instead looping left before merging onto South Road.
Local commuters know all too well how congested Anzac Highway can get at peak times, and freeing up this intersection with this innovative new design will help traffic flow more smoothly while keeping local neighbourhoods connected.
As put by Member for Badcoe Jayne Stinson
In the consultation phase, my neighbourhood clearly said the Liberals' original design was unsightly and their planned removal of right turns would make local travel a nightmare.
People in Kurralta Park, Ashford, Glandore, Black Forest and surrounds will be better connected and able to get to shops, schools, sports facilities and businesses faster and more easily with the reinstatement of right turns and the use of loop roads.
I am speaking with my community to explain these changes and will continue to do my job to advocate for their needs.
