Shortlist of options to improve safety on the South-Eastern Freeway

Tuesday, 20 December 2022

A list of 16 options to address heavy vehicle safety on the down track of the South-Eastern Freeway has been finalised.

This list is a mixture of short, medium and long-term initiatives, some of which could be delivered within months. However, others will require further investigation to determine their feasibility.

This follows last week’s third and final South-Eastern Freeway industry roundtable, and forms part of the South Australian Government’s comprehensive review of heavy vehicle safety on the down-track’s citybound lanes between Crafers and the intersection of Cross Road, Portrush Road and Glen Osmond Road.

The review has explored improving safety through infrastructure improvements such as safety ramps, the use of technology solutions, improving compliance, legislation and education for heavy vehicle drivers, and speed and traffic management.

The heavy vehicle and transport industry, as well as the community, have been consulted about their experiences on the down-track. Hundreds of suggestions have been received which have informed the list of potential solutions.

In the short term, options to be developed for consideration include improving safety signage, relocating the stop line on Cross Road, an education campaign that targets local and interstate heavy vehicle drivers, and working with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to review existing processes and legislation.

Medium and longer-term options to be developed into projects include live monitoring and improved detection of heavy vehicles in trouble, building a third safety ramp, and investigating road and traffic management changes that will slow heavy vehicles.

To view the list of safety proposals, please visit www.dit.sa.gov.au/sefreeway

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport is also undertaking a study into a Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass that will connect the state from the north and west to the southeast, reducing the need for a proportion of heavy vehicles to go through the metropolitan area.

Shortlisted proposals:

Short term

• Education and awareness marketing and communications campaign
• Make improvements to South Australian licensing and driver training
• Review Chain of Responsibility requirements for steep descents
• Work with National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to send education material to fleet operators
• Continue to investigate enhanced communication to drivers/vehicles
• Enhanced compliance powers for efficient compliance and incident response
• Revise freeway signage on-road
• Relocate Cross Road stop bar at the Freeway intersection
• Implement a short slower zone prior to the top of the hill (at Crafers) to enable low gear engagement by trucks

Medium term

• Detection technology for out-of-control heavy vehicles combined with Intelligent Transport System
• Install emergency stopping signals on Cross Road with Variable Message Sign, incorporating detection technology
• Create a heavy vehicle 40km/h slow checking zone below Mount Osmond Interchange

Long term

• Make improvements to National licensing and driver training
• Build a new (third) safety ramp
• Localised widening of road shoulders for emergency stopping
• Further investigation study for targeted stopping station for heavy vehicle inspection