Things are definitely looking up for Adelaide’s cycling community, with riders now able to bypass some of Adelaide’s busiest intersections thanks to the opening of elevated paths along the Mike Turtur Bikeway.
Riders, walkers and runners can now seamlessly travel above South, Marion, Cross and Morphett Roads while using the shared path, which follows the tramline between the city and Glenelg.
The almost 1.4km of elevated sections will improve safety and efficiency for more than 1000 regular users of the bikeway, who join the more than 40,000 tram commuters travelling along this corridor each week.
Eighty prefabricated deck panels have been used to form the paths, with safety features including new lighting, anti-throw screens, handrail and bridge barriers also being incorporated into the design.
The completion of the final connections over Marion Road and Cross Road, and Morphett Road, fol
lows the opening of the South Road section of bikeway.
Opening the final sections marks a major milestone for the $870 million Tram Grade Separation Projects.
Funded by equal commitments of $435 million by the state and federal governments, these works have removed level crossings and delivered new overpasses at Plympton and Morphettville, easing traffic congestion and significantly improving road safety across the network.
The South Road tram overpass at Glandore was also rebuilt to accommodate the $15.4 billion River Torrens to Darlington Project open motorway.
Before the level crossings were removed, boom gates were down during peak hours for up to 20 minutes per hour, affecting approximately 50,000 vehicles each day at Marion Road and Cross Road, and approximately 25,600 per day at Morphett Road.
In a further boost for pedestrian safety, a new pedestrian-activated crossing is being installed on Morphett Road, between the new overpass and Maxwell Terrace.
The push-button crossing will improve access to the new community spaces and local businesses, enhancing local connectivity.
