Public Works Committee: Main North Road and Nottage Terrace Intersection Upgrade

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:42): I move:

That the 71^st report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled 'Main North Road and Nottage Terrace intersection upgrade', be noted.

Mr Speaker, as you are aware, the project is located approximately three kilometres north of Adelaide's central business district. The Main North Road and Nottage Terrace intersection operates at capacity at present during peak periods, with a signal phasing and traffic lanes fully utilised. This project has been identified to ensure that the congestion and safety risks at the intersection can be appropriately addressed.

The Main North Road and Nottage Terrace intersection forms part of the outer ring route, which is also an identified major traffic route for the City of Adelaide. Main North Road is also a high-frequency public transport corridor, as members will know. The right turn from Main North Road onto Nottage Terrace is a key movement for vehicles traveling from the south and the CBD to the north-eastern suburbs. The existing single right-turn lane can cause difficulties due to the inadequate capacity. It is understood that this often causes long delays, particularly at peak traffic times.

The department has advised of the need for additional capacity on all approaches to this intersection and the need to provide an additional right-turn function from Main North Road onto Nottage Terrace. The approved budget for the Main North Road and Nottage Terrace intersection upgrade is $19 million, with the Australian government contributing 50 per cent of funding and the South Australian government contributing the remaining 50 per cent portion.

Road widening is a key aspect of the intersection upgrade, and the scope of works includes but of course is not limited to the widening of the western side of Main North Road, the installation of dual right-turn lanes onto Nottage Terrace travelling eastbound, two through lanes on Main North Road travelling northbound and the addition of a priority bus lane through the intersection, also travelling northbound.

The eastern side of Main North Road will be widened to accommodate the left turn onto Nottage Terrace travelling eastbound, and the extension of the bus priority lane at the intersection travelling southbound will also be accommodated. I should add for the benefit of members that the proposed works will also include upgraded pedestrian crossings and extension to the existing northbound bicycle lane and new and upgraded traffic signals and road lighting at the intersection. When complete, the intersection upgrade is expected to improve travel times and safety for all road users, improve network reliability and support economic activity largely arising from freight movement.

The committee examined written evidence in relation to this project, which advised that the appropriate consultation in relation to the project had been undertaken. The committee is satisfied that the proposal has been subject to the appropriate agency consultation and also meets the criteria for the examination of projects described in the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991. Having regard to the evidence considered pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed scope of the public works I have detailed.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (11:46): I rise to speak on this very exciting project in my electorate, that is, the $90 million upgrade of the Scotty's Corner intersection at the corner of Main North Road and Nottage Terrace. In 2010, very early on in my political career, I was living in Collinswood, so I am very familiar with this intersection and the effects it has on the local community, and certainly it has been raised many times by my local constituents.

For anyone familiar with this intersection, if you are heading out of the city and turning right onto Nottage Terrace from Main North Road, many of my constituents live on the left side of that, which is Thorngate, have indicated that they cannot get across the traffic to get into that right-hand turn lane. It banks up so far down that, if they want to turn right, they simply cannot access this lane. Having the dual lanes will mean there is a lot better opportunity for them to get out of their suburb, Thorngate, if they are heading over to Walkerville, up North East Road or want to turn right for any reason.

Because they cannot necessarily get into that right-hand turn lane, if they have come up Main North Road and cannot get across, as that banks up very quickly, many people then continue along Main North Road and cut through Harvey Street where Officeworks is. Harvey Street is a very narrow street that has parking on both sides, speed humps and dense living, with lots of apartments and units on the street. I have had lots of residents concerned about the traffic that moves through Harvey Street and the danger of that, because lots of children and elderly people live in that street, and an immense amount of traffic goes through there just to avoid the intersection because it is not usable.

If people do not cut through Harvey Street they will do a U-turn at Harvey Street. When I lived in Collinswood, Harvey Street was one of the exits I came out of every morning and I saw many near misses at that intersection. A lot of them were because people were trying to avoid the Scotty's Corner intersection because it was banked up and not working properly. It will be very good for my local community. If you fix a major intersection, you want the cars on the major roads and not rat-running through all the side streets where there are children, pets, the elderly and parked cars. Really, the streets are not made for the intense amount of traffic, so I welcome this redevelopment.

It is also perfect timing. I have lobbied very hard. Heading north, the property on the left-hand side (the western side) was for sale many years ago and I thought what a great opportunity for the transport department (DPTI as it was back then) to purchase that property. Alas, they did not. However, this new government has seized on that opportunity. There was a proposed development and, whilst it is sad the development did not go ahead, it is actually fortuitous that the land is vacant, so this redevelopment will have minimal disruption.

On the western side, there was already vacant land and DIT was able to purchase the amount they needed to widen this intersection. At the very same time, the north-eastern corner, which was medical suites, is also quite vacant, so there is space available to take extra room there as well without shutting down businesses or causing much damage.

I know that Scotty's Motel had a proposal for an expansion several years ago that did not go ahead because they were uncertain about the intersection and also the development on the western side, so I am hopeful that this will not only stop rat-running and make it better for my constituents living in Thorngate and Collinswood in particular, and Medindie, which is also affected, but also possibly stimulate further development because the intersection will be upgraded and modified and have better safety for pedestrians and better bus lanes.

I am really pleased to be part of a government that has finally got on with the job. I know there will be some disruption in my electorate while this work occurs; however, I think that, in the long run, this will be a very good outcome for the people living in that local area and all the traffic that heads north out of the city or north-east using Nottage Terrace to get onto North East Road. I welcome this federal and state government commitment.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:51): I acknowledge the very significant contribution of the member for Adelaide, who has been a determined, passionate and effective advocate for this project. She should take considerable pride and satisfaction in seeing this project to approval. She is closely familiar with the difficulties faced by motorists navigating the intersection and also closely familiar with the ancillary traffic movements on local roads that cause very real road safety concerns for local residents.

It is a very significant investment. As has been rightly observed, there will be some disruption to the very busy arterial road in the course of construction. Every effort will, of course, be made to try to minimise disruption. As the member for Adelaide has also rightly observed, the benefits for motorists and local residents when this project achieves completion will be very significant, particularly for residents in Thorngate and Collinswood, residents through the north-eastern suburbs, and anybody seeking a safer and quicker route to pass through the intersection. It is also an intersection that does see some freight movement and, of course, there are very important safety benefits that will be realised for those movements as well.

Motion carried.