The Darlington Upgrade Project has reached a new milestone, with motorists able to use the new Ayliffes Road bridge over the non-stop motorway for the first time from the morning of Saturday, 28 September 2019.
This is one of several major traffic switches at Darlington which are necessary to enable project works to progress to completion.
In addition to the opening of the Ayliffes Road bridge, the switch will also involve the reconfiguration of traffic in the lowered motorway.
As a result, the lowered motorway will be closed between Ayliffes Road and the Southern Expressway from 8pm Friday 27 to 8am Saturday 28 September 2019.
To access the Southern Expressway, motorists will need to use the Flinders Drive or Marion Road on-ramps.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said completion of the new Ayliffes Road Bridge was the latest development in the game- changing North-South Corridor project.
"For the first time, city-bound traffic can use the new bridge, stripping time off their daily drive to work," Mr Tudge said.
"It's another great example of congestion busting in Adelaide, the Morrison Government promised to get people home sooner and safer and that's what we're delivering."
Premier Steven Marshall said this project formed part of the State Liberal Government's
$11.9 billion infrastructure pipeline over the next four years.
"The State Liberal Government is building South Australia and is investing billions of dollars to bust congestion, reduce travel times and improve road safety," said Premier Marshall.
"This massive infrastructure investment will underpin thousands of South Australian jobs, help grow our economy and build the infrastructure to support our population growth strategy."
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll said the Darlington Upgrade Project has already slashed travel times for motorists as these traffic switches have been implemented.
"This major traffic switch will mean that approximately 15,000 motorists are able to get to and from work and home faster and more safely," said Minister Knoll.
"There will be a few other traffic switches in the coming months which will make the journey for the approximately 90,000 motorists who use this interchange everyday faster."
Member for Boothby Nicolle Flint welcomed the Darlington milestone saying it would help slash travel times and ease congestion for residents and motorists living in the southern suburbs.
"The Morrison Government is busting congestion, helping people to get to and from work, school, and university quickly and safely so that they can spend more with their family and friends," said Ms Flint.
"I am proud to have helped deliver this important project for my local community."
The project is being constructed in stages to ensure traffic continues to flow efficiently through this important section of the North-South Corridor.
Changed access arrangements will take place at the following locations, with full details available on DPTI's website:
- Southern Expressway (northbound) to Ayliffes Road;
- Southern Expressway (northbound) to South Road;
- Main South Road (northbound) to South Road (via surface roads);
- Main South Road (northbound) to South Road (via lowered motorway);
- Main South Road (northbound) to Ayliffes Road (via surface roads);
- Ayliffes Road (southbound) to Southern Expressway; and
- South Road (southbound) to Southern Expressway.
The first major switch occurred in July 2019, when traffic was able to use the newly- constructed lowered motorway for the first time.
Emergency services have been notified of the changed traffic conditions.
