Speed limits to be reduced on River Road and Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf

Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Speed limits on River Road and part of Mount Barker Road in Hahndorf will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h from Thursday, 26 October 2023, enhancing safety for road users and local residents and businesses, as a restriction on large trucks entering the Hahndorf township comes into effect.

From 30 October 2023, large trucks over 15 metres in length that do not have a destination in Hahndorf will be restricted from entering the town, removing around 130 heavy vehicles a day from the main street.

Truck drivers with no business in Hahndorf can bypass the town via Mount Barker Road, Strathalbyn Road, Onkaparinga Valley Road, Flaxley Road, Junction Road, River Road, or via the South-Eastern Freeway.

To enhance safety for road users, the speed limit on Mount Barker Road will be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h, between the roundabout at the South-Eastern Freeway off-ramp from Adelaide and the existing 60km/h speed limit on the western approach to the Hahndorf township, east of the Verdun roundabout.

The speed limit on River Road will also be reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h. This will apply to the full length of the road from Strathalbyn Road to Mount Barker Road.

These speed reductions form part of the wider safety improvements being undertaken in the area.

Addressing concerns from locals about the impact of the large truck restriction on the wider road network, maintenance activities are currently being undertaken on River Road and Strathalbyn Road, including shoulder sealing, vegetation management, and fixing some localised pavement damage.

Vegetation management activities will also be undertaken on Flaxley Road, Church Hill Road and Junction Road.

In addition, improvements at the junctions of River Road/Strathalbyn Road and River Road/Mount Barker Road are planned, along with minor intersection improvements at the junctions of River Road with Kangaroo Reef Road, Sawmill Gully Road, and Fairview Road.

Regarding the heavy vehicle restriction, signage will be installed at major entry points to Hahndorf and along the broader road network to provide advance notice to drivers about the changed entry rules to the Hahndorf township.

Exemptions apply only to trucks if they are taking freight to businesses in the main street or other destinations within the township that they cannot reach by any other route.

There will be no planned changes to bus services as part of this initiative.

This solution to restrict large trucks from Hahndorf is in addition to the measures already announced, including an upgrade to deliver a full interchange at Verdun, and a major upgrade at the Mount Barker Interchange.

These two interchange upgrades would remove at least 940 cars and smaller trucks each day from the main street.

The restriction will be monitored to assess its impact, and the South Australian government will continue to consider longer-term solutions to broader traffic issues in Hahndorf.

The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $250 million (80:20) for the Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade project.

For more information please visit our website dit.sa.gov.au/hahndorf