The RAA has welcomed the announcement of new safety upgrades for the South Eastern Freeway – and improved interchanges at Verdun and Mount Barker – but has continued to call for a third safety ramp to further improve safety at the bottom of the freeway.


RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain said additional Federal and State Government investment will see installation of variable speed limit and median barrier gates to enable traffic contra-flow, which are vital upgrades to improve time reliability and incidence response times.


“RAA is also hopeful this funding can be used to reconfigure the intersection of Cross, Portrush and Glen Osmond Road to move the traffic queueing on Cross Road out of the path of vehicles,” he said.


However, Mr Mountain urged authorities not to rule out a third safety ramp as a final step to improve safety.


“We welcome this extra investment and much-needed safety upgrades for the South Eastern Freeway,” he said.


“The Adelaide Hills has a growing population and needs to be serviced with transport infrastructure that is safe, reliable and accessible.


“These upgrades are all positive outcomes for both safety and traffic flow – in particular the upgraded interchanges at Mount Barker and Verdun.


“The new Verdun interchange should reduce the amount of traffic needing to use River Road in Hahndorf.


“On the Freeway itself, the managed motorway elements and new moveable barriers will enable traffic to move past an incident that otherwise might result in a standstill for several hours.


“But if we want to make this corridor as safe as possible, a third safety ramp would provide that final option for any out-of-control vehicles before the intersection at Cross/Glen Osmond/Portrush Roads, especially for those that misjudge the descent after the second safety ramp.


“We will continue to advocate for the government to investigate this option.”