Frequently Asked Questions

Shepherds Hill Road, Brighton Parade and Waite Street Intersection

Why the intersection needs an upgrade?

This intersection, which is located in the heart of Blackwood’s busy residential and commercial precincts, was identified as a priority in the Road Management Plan undertaken for Main Road and Shepherds Hill Road in 2015.

There were 25 crashes at the intersection over a five-year period (2014-2018) including 13 casualty crashes. Right turn movements onto Shepherds Hill Road and straight through movements from Waite Street and Brighton Parade contributed to the majority of these crashes. A community survey undertaken in 2020 as part of the planning study identified safety as a key community concern at this intersection, with a number of local residents also reporting ‘near-misses’. Other issues raised by the community included:

the need for safe crossings and access for people walking and cycling
concern about traffic delays and travel times at the intersection
the importance of access to local streets and businesses.

Upgrade options

Three key intersection upgrade options were investigated at this location:

Option 1: Movement Restrictions
Option 2: Traffic Signals
Option 3: Roundabout (not preferred).

Option 1 (Movement Restriction)

Option 1 (Movement Restriction) would prevent right turn and straight through movements from both Brighton Parade and Waite Street. These movements currently make up only 2.4% of the total movements at the junction but contribute to the majority of crashes at the intersection.

This option would:

improve safety at the intersection by removing the lowest demand/highest risk movements
reduce delays for left turning traffic from Waite Street and Brighton Parade
improve access for people walking with the installation of an unsignalised pedestrian refuge in the median on Shepherds Hill Road to the west of the intersection
maintain existing access for people who cycle
be implemented in a short timeframe and with minimal disruption.

This option would also require right turn and through traffic from Waite Street and Brighton Parade (typically 580 vehicles per day between 7am and 7pm) to choose alternative routes, most likely via Woodleigh Road, Gladstone Road, Main Road and Melton Road.

Option 1: Movement Restriction

Option 2: Traffic Signals

Option 2 (Traffic Signals) would involve the installation of traffic signals and extension of the right turn lane on Shepherds Hill Road from the western approach. Brighton Parade would have a dedicated right turn lane as well as a shared through and left turn lane. Signalised pedestrian crossings would be provided on all four approaches to the intersection and bike lanes would be installed on Shepherds Hill Road.

Several respondents to the 2020 community survey suggested relocating the existing signalised pedestrian actuated crossing on Shepherds Hill Road to reduce congestion caused by its proximity to the roundabout and service station. This was considered as part of Option 2, but pedestrians would still likely cross at the existing location, creating safety concerns. Instead, coordinating the timing of the two sets of traffic lights is preferred.

This option would:

improve traffic safety at the intersection for all users
maintain all traffic movements at the intersection including right turns (right turn arrows will be provided for right turns from Shepherds Hill Road whereas right turn movements from Brighton Parade and Waite Street will be allowed by filtering through opposing through movements)
improve access for people walking by installing pedestrian crossings on all four approaches of the intersection
improve access and safety along Shepherds Hill Road for people cycling by extending the bike lanes.

This option would also:

slightly increase average travel time through the intersection
potentially increase queuing on Brighton Parade and Waite Street due to the attraction of the traffic lights (this may encourage some left turning traffic, from Brighton Parade in particular, to choose alternatives route such as Woodleigh Road, Sherbourne Road or Gladstone Road)
take longer to construct and cause more disruption than Option 1 (although work impacts would be minimised where possible)
require the marginal widening of Shepherds Hill Road and Brighton Parade which would likely result in the removal of some existing roadside vegetation, removal of the on-street parking on the western side of Brighton Parade near the intersection (the parking on the eastern side would be retained), and some minor impacts within private property boundaries.

Option 3: Roundabout (not preferred)

While a roundabout would improve safety at the junction by slowing traffic and removing turning movement conflicts, the disadvantages of this option are considered to outweigh the benefits. The key disadvantages include:

a larger project ‘footprint’ than Options 1 and 2 with more significant impacts to private property on each corner of the intersection
significant impacts on utility services
reduced safety of access and egress for properties closest to the roundabout
increased difficulties getting in and out of Waite Street during peak periods due to the close proximity to Blackwood roundabout and queuing on Shepherds Hill Road
no additional benefit for people walking and cycling.

Mitcham Hills Corridor Upgrade

What is planned at this location?

The South Australian Government has committed $20 million towards the Mitcham Hills Corridor which include the upgrade of the Russell Street, Main Road and Sheoak Road junctions. The project is expected to support around 35 full time equivalent jobs throughout the construction period.

What consultation has been undertaken on the project?

The Australian and South Australian Governments have committed funding to undertake a number of improvements along the Mitcham Hills Road corridor. As part of this commitment, a planning study was also undertaken, covering two study areas including, Old Belair Road through to the Main Road and Russell Street junction, and the precinct to the west of Blackwood Roundabout incorporating the Shepherds Hill Road, Brighton Parade and Waite Street intersection. In January 2020, information about the study was released to over 8,300 local households and businesses. Included in the release was an invitation to participate in the feedback process, via telephone call, email, website form, survey and three information sessions. A survey attracting over 780 responses measured the level of satisfaction with the current roadways and also helped identify the priority issues for locals and road users. The three drop-in information sessions were held in February 2020 with over 200 recorded attendees. Engagement with residents, community groups and businesses will continue throughout the detailed design and delivery phases.

Are vegetation impacts expected as part of the upgrade?

The project upgrade is in an existing built-up area and environmental impacts are expected to be minimal. Consideration is always given to limiting the removal of vegetation along project corridors as much as possible

Will noise impacts be considered as part of the project?

The Department’s Road Traffic Noise Guidelines (the Guidelines) set out the process to be followed and criteria to be applied when assessing the road traffic noise impacts of infrastructure projects involving new roads and/or major upgrading of existing roads. The Department will engage acoustic consultants in the detailed design phase to undertake a noise assessment for the intersection upgrade project. Results of the assessment will be used to determine what, if any, and where noise mitigation treatments are appropriate. Please be assured every effort is made by the Department and its construction contractors, to minimise impacts to local residents as much as practically possible.

Russell Street / Main Road / Sheoak Road Junctions

How does the proposed concept design improve safety for all road users including pedestrians and cyclists?

Improved safety for all road users is a key aspect of the preferred design with:

a new signalised pedestrian crossing for Russell Street;
new traffic signals at Main Road and Russell Street to control all right turn movements, which have been the main crash type at this junction;
increased sheltered lane storage for right turn movements from Russell Street into Sheoak Road;
the removal of right turn movements (emergency vehicles exempt) from Sheoak Road to Old Belair Road (as an alternative, road users will be able to access Old Belair Road to travel north via James Road and the new roundabout at the Old Belair Road / James Road junction);
the widening of Main Road near Gloucester Avenue and Sheoak Road to enable traffic to move out of the through lane for turn movements;
the construction of a protected right turn lane on Old Belair Road for right turns onto James Road.

How is the proposed concept design “future proofed” for population growth in the area?

The preferred design can accommodate future traffic increases resulting from population growth in the following ways:

the extension of the right turn lane into Sheoak Road provides increased vehicle storage;

the widening of Main Road and the installation of an additional right turn lane into Russell Street, combined with the provision of Bus Only right turn into Main Road manages overall traffic efficiency and queues.

Does the proposed concept design improved travel times?

Motorists might experience small increases in travel times as a result of the increased safety at this location

Why is the upgrade required?

The proposed design for the junction provides an outcome that improves safety for road users, through the installation of traffic signals at the Russell Street and Main Road junction, including duplication of the right turn from Main Road to Russell Street. Safety is also increased at the Main Road and Gloucester Avenue junction and the Main Road and Sheoak Road junction by inclusion of median storage on Main Road, at the Main Road and Russell Street junction by improving the road geometry and installing an additional right turn lane into Russell Street and for pedestrians crossing Russell Street through the provision of a new signalised pedestrian crossing of Russell Street, at the proposed new traffic signals.

Have improvements for pedestrians and cyclists been considered in the preferred concept design?

The design includes upgraded pedestrian crossings and traffic islands within the intersection, including new pedestrian crossing lights and ramps, and a new eastbound bicycle lane on Main Road on the approach to the intersection. Cyclist safety has been considered through provision of a dedicated on road bicycle lane through the Russel Street and Main Road intersection for the extent of the works

What is the status of the Old Belair and James Road junction project

The South Australian Government submitted the Old Belair and James Road junction project to Infrastructure SA (ISA) for an independent review, and after reviewing information and considering public commentary regarding the project, ISA recommended to suspend the construction of the roundabout at the James Road / Old Belair Road junction.

Please click here to access the ISA’s full report.