sa motor
Bay tram service reopens
The tram line component of the $870 million Tram Grade Separation Projects (TGSP) between the CBD and Glenelg is now open.
The project includes two new tram overpasses, with one spanning Marion and Cross roads and another over Morphett Road.
The Marion Road stop is on the overpass. Tram stop 12 on the eastern side of Morphett Road has been combined with the existing Morphettville Racecourse stop, and stop 13 (Glengowrie) has been moved closer to Morphett Road.
The South Road overpass was lengthened to allow space for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) tunnel entry and exit, and related road infrastructure.
The rebuilt overpass over one of SA's busiest roads includes an arch section, which is the longest bridge span in South Australia – some have even likened it to a mini Sydney Harbour Bridge.
All three overpasses carry the Mike Turtur Bikeway, which will reopen in several stages through to the middle of 2026.
A plan to add the bicycle path to the Goodwood Railway Station tram overpass was scrapped in 2024 due to concerns about tree removal.
However, the two main pedestrian archways under the overpass, on either side of the train station, have been widened to further improve safety on the shared-use pathways around Forestville Reserve.
Worst SA intersections for casualty crashes
The Main North Road and Regency Road intersection, and Marion Road and Sturt Road junction recorded the most casualty crashes from 2020 to 2024, according to data analysed by RAA.
There were 32 casualty crashes at each of these junctions. The Peachey Road and Curtis Road intersection and South Road and Henley Beach Road junction recorded 26 and 25 casualty crashes respectively, rounding out the top four.
Five intersections along Main North Road featured in the top 10, including where the major arterial intersects with Curtis and Craigmore roads, Montague Road, Grand Junction and Port Wakefield roads, and Saints Road and The Grove Way.
Of the 47 intersections that recorded 15 or more casualty crashes, 18 were in northern Adelaide.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says the number of casualty crashes at these locations highlights the need for improvements to infrastructure in this developing northern part of Adelaide.
"Intersection redesign and realignment might help improve safety at these high-risk intersections," Charles says.
Rear-end crashes were the most common crash type, while right turn and right-angle crashes featured often at several intersections.
RAA’s recommendations for safer intersections include extending existing turn lanes, adding extra right turn lanes to increase capacity, reviewing traffic signal phasing, and modifying slip lanes to improve safety for vulnerable road users.
“RAA will continue to advocate for safer roads on behalf of all South Australians,” Charles says.
Tunnel talk
With site preparation for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) tunnel project underway, when will drilling commence?
Three large tunnel-boring machines (TBMs), plus some smaller devices, will be used for the project. The first TBM arrived in Adelaide last September.
Each of the 100-metre-long, 15-metre-high TBMs will be assembled in a trench at the southern ends of the southern and northern tunnels, in a worksite known as a laydown area.
Laydown areas are more than a kilometre long and will contain a power sub-station to support the tunnelling operation, spoil sheds for excavated soil and rock, a water treatment plant, workshops and other facilities.
The TBMs take about six months to assemble.
Tunnelling is due to start in the third quarter of this year, with the T2D project on schedule to be completed in 2031.
Road rules scam alert
RAA's Road Safety team continues to receive enquiries from concerned members about false road rules information posted online and then spread through the community by word-of-mouth and social media.
This misinformation often appears in social media ads and is aimed at older motorists concerned about restrictions to their driving.
False claims have been made that night driving curfews will be introduced for people over 60, and specific number plates will be required for senior drivers, as well as laws banning people from eating while behind the wheel. Some posts also claim that headlight use will soon be mandatory 24/7.
Dramatic headlines can lead users to click through to articles where pop-up ads are a source of revenue for site creators.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says many of these fake posts use urgent wording like 'new laws taking effect next week' or show photos of police officers and politicians to look credible.
"These stories may sound convincing, but they're not accurate," Charles says.
"One of the biggest giveaways is when they don't include any quotes or statements from official sources, such as the State Government, SA Police or Department for Infrastructure and Transport, or other reputable organisations like RAA.
"RAA will always share genuine updates through trusted outlets like sa move, RAA Daily and our social media pages. If in doubt, our Road Rules team is able to assist with road rules queries."
If you have a question about South Australian road rules, call the RAA Road Rules team on 8202 4570 or email motoringroadrules@raa.com.au
SA road in focus
In each edition of sa move, we shine the spotlight on a South Australian road.
Length
Casualty crashes
Lives lost
Serious injuries
Minor injuries
The road: Goodwood Road
Why it’s in focus
Goodwood Road is a major arterial road between South Terrace in the CBD and Fiveash Drive at Pasadena. More than 20,000 vehicles use the road daily, with some sections carrying more than 30,000 vehicles.
Road maintenance is a continuing concern along the route, especially south of Cross Road.
Crash history (2019–2023)
Nearly two thirds of casualty crashes along Goodwood Road occurred at intersections. The junction with Springbank and Daws roads recorded the highest number of collisions, however, no serious injuries have been recorded since the intersection was upgraded in 2021.
Of all the casualty crashes on Goodwood Road, 40 per cent were rear-end, 22 per cent were right-angle and 14 per cent were right-turn.
Nearly half of fatal or serious injury crashes involved vulnerable road users.
Afternoon peak was the worst time of day for crashes, with 31 per cent of casualty crashes occurring between 3pm and 6pm.
Recent upgrades
Completed in 2021, the Goodwood Road, Daws Road and Springbank Road intersection was changed from an offset junction to a four-way crossroad.
In 2025, two time-based school speed-limit zones were introduced near Goodwood Primary School, St Thomas School and Westbourne Park Primary School. The speed limit is now 40km/h on school days from 8am to 9.30am and from 2pm to 4pm.
The 50km/h speed limit at the northern end of Goodwood Road was extended to Greenhill Road to include the Adelaide Showground.
This year, 40km/h time-based speed limits will be introduced near Colonel Light Gardens Primary School and Springbank Secondary College.
What RAA wants done
RAA reviewed the condition of Goodwood Road in December 2025 and found significant cracks, rutting and potholes. This damage represents part of the state's road maintenance backlog, which has grown to an estimated $2.1 billion.
In the lead up to this year's State Election, RAA is calling on the State Government to increase the annual maintenance budget from an estimated $160 million to at least $250 million, to address the increasing backlog resulting from historical underspend.
Let RAA know about a road that you find confusing, unsafe or poorly signed at raa.com.au/report-a-road-issue
Growth without Gridlock
In the lead-up to next month’s State Election, RAA has released its Growth without Gridlock vision for South Australia. RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade says South Australia’s population is climbing towards two million people and we’re seeing an explosion of new housing to support that increase.
“This growth is great for our state, but it must be supported by investment in infrastructure and services,” Nick says.
Here are 10 of the key transport and infrastructure projects RAA recommends.
1. North and south rail services
Create a blueprint to extend Adelaide rail services south to Aldinga and north to Roseworthy and Concordia, to service the projected population growth in these areas.
2. Main South Road
Install a third lane on Main South Road from the Southern Expressway across the Onkaparinga River, to reduce congestion caused by rapidly expanding southern communities.
3. Main North Road
Add a third lane to Main North Road between Montague Road and Kesters Road, and develop plans to expand the corridor in Smithfield between Kings Road and The Grove Way to ease congestion at these bottlenecks.
4. Curtis Road
Duplicate Curtis Road, a key east-west route in Adelaide's outer northern suburbs, to help manage the significant increase in traffic in the state's fastest growing area.
5. Port Wakefield Highway, Riverlea Boulevard intersection
Build an overpass at the Port Wakefield Road and Riverlea Boulevard intersection, which is currently controlled by traffic lights. The population of Riverlea Park is expected to reach 40,000 in the years ahead, and RAA believes the current intersection will be insufficient to safely deal with the increased traffic.
6. Adelaide Hills Freight Bypass
Move ahead with the Adelaide Hills Freight Bypass, including duplication of Swanport Bridge, a South Eastern Freeway interchange upgrade at Monarto, a heavy vehicle bypass of Truro, and road upgrades behind the Adelaide Hills.
7. South Eastern Freeway, Stirling to Verdun
Build a third lane on the South Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Verdun to service the increasing population growth in the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker.
8. Augusta Highway, Sturt Highway and Dukes Highway
Upgrade our national highways, including the duplication of the Augusta Highway between Port Pirie and Crystal Brook, the Sturt Highway between Truro and Nuriootpa, and the Dukes Highway between Tailem Bend and the Mallee Highway.
9. On-demand bus services
Expand on-demand bus services to areas like the Adelaide Hills, Goolwa and Victor Harbor, following the success of the Mount Barker service.
10. Road maintenance backlog
Address the state's road maintenance backlog through $1 billion of funding over four years.
IMAGES: Getty; RAA/Mike Lockheart; T2D Project.
