Minimal Glenthorne impact in fresh design for Majors Road Interchange

Sunday, 30 October 2022

New on and off ramps that minimise impacts on the local environment have been proposed to improve access to the Southern Expressway at Majors Road, in a new concept design being released today for community feedback.

The South Australian and Australian governments have committed $120 million on a 50:50 basis to deliver the Southern Expressway and Majors Road Interchange project, which will provide commuters in the southern suburbs better access to the Southern Expressway.

The proposed concept design, which includes a new interchange with on and off ramps for both directions of travel, has been released today, and the community is encouraged to provide feedback.

Key factors influencing the design included minimising impacts to Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, including O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park and associated Mountain Bike Trails, and enabling construction to be confined almost entirely within the existing Southern Expressway road corridor.

The project will have no impact on significant vegetation, no impact to Glenthorne Farm and only requires a small parcel of land adjacent the existing road corridor.

A Registration of Interest process for the design and construction of the interchange will also be opened to the market tomorrow, marking the first stage of procurement for the project. The concept design will play an important role in guiding this procurement. The design was informed by the first round of community consultation on the project, held in August and early September, which resulted in 745 responses from the community.

Features of the concept design include:

*New on and off ramps to the Southern Expressway, confined almost entirely to the existing road corridor.
* Widening of the Majors Road bridge to accommodate six lanes, including two through-lanes and a dedicated right turn lane onto the Southern Expressway, in each direction. 
* Installation of traffic signals at the junction of Majors Road and Adams Road, which will incorporate an access to Sam Willoughby International BMX Facility and O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park.
* New dedicated bike lanes in each direction on Majors Road through the interchange.
* Installation of a new underpass, ensuring continued access and use of the Patrick Jonker Veloway.
* New and upgraded traffic signals, road lighting and drainage.

Feedback on the concept design will be open until Friday, 2 December 2022.

To view the design and provide feedback, please visit the project website at www.dit.sa.gov.au/majorsinterchange and fill out the short survey.

Early works on the construction of the interchange are scheduled to commence later this year, with completion expected by the end of 2025.