Feedback from local road users has helped shape the concept design for Main Road, Cherry Gardens - the first design to be released as part of the Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety (PRS) Package.
The $150 million PRS Package is being jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $120 million and the South Australian Government $30 million.
It includes a range of road improvements to support economic growth, improve road safety, and increase fire resilience in the region.
Phase one of community engagement for the PRS Package sought feedback on what was most important to the community to address along the seven priority road corridors, with these insights used to inform the proposed upgrade.
The main concern expressed by the 229 respondents was the quality of road surface, followed by narrow lane widths when travelling on the key corridors.
The concept design includes road and curve widening to improve safety for road users and access for heavy vehicles, plus new road surfacing to ensure long-term safety and integrity.
Construction is expected to start later in 2023, and will deliver on another Malinauskas Government election commitment.
Feedback received in phase one of community engagement will also be used to develop concept plans for the other key road corridors, including:
- Main Road - Edgecumbe Parade, Blackwood to Black Road, Coromandel Valley
- Kangarilla Road / Dashwood Gully Road - Clarendon to Meadows
- North East Road / Torrens Valley Road - Houghton to Mount Pleasant
- Norton Summit Road / Lobethal Road / Mount Torrens Road - Teringie to Mount Torrens
- Mount Barker Road / Strathalbyn Road - Stirling to Strathalbyn
- Onkaparinga Valley Road - Birdwood to Verdun
- Long Valley Road - Wistow to Strathalbyn.
Investigations have also started into works at the intersections of Junction and Jones roads, and Onkaparinga Valley, Nairne and Junction roads, both located in Balhannah.
Some of the works included in the Adelaide Hills PRS Package are identified as more urgent or in an advanced stage of planning and design.
Locations along the Onkaparinga Valley, Clarendon, and Lobethal roads corridors were identified for immediate road surface upgrades, which are scheduled to begin this month.
Asphalting works on Main Road, between Edgecumbe Parade and Black Road, were completed in December 2022.
