Adelaide Hills road upgrades & River Road junctions work to get underway

Several upgrades will be rolled out to deliver safer and more useable roads throughout the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. 

These works are part of the State Government’s $150 million Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package, and will be delivered alongside upgrades to junctions along River Road. 

The Adelaide Hills package of works is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments over five years, and it will include a range of road improvements to support economic growth, improve road safety and increase fire resilience in the Adelaide Hills area. 

The scope of the package includes pavement works, road widening, easing of tight curves, shoulder sealing, audio tactile line marking, safety barrier installation, junction upgrades, and vegetation management on some of the region’s key strategic arterial roads. 

As part of this package, the intersection of Mawson Road, Battunga Road and Nottage Terrace in Meadows is being upgraded with a single-lane roundabout to help improve safety for drivers and pedestrians. On average, more than 10,000 vehicles and 550 heavy vehicles pass through this intersection every day. 

The design of the new roundabout will include new pedestrian facilities such as pedestrian refuges and ‘wombat’ crossings as well as new and upgraded footpaths to help pedestrians and cyclists cross the road safely. 

Community members are now invited to provide feedback on the concept plan and give insights to their experiences at the intersection to help inform the project’s final design. Those interested can complete an online survey here. 

“The start of consultation on the concept plan for the Mawson Road, Battunga Road and Nottage Terrace intersection upgrade is great news and something that both the coucnil and the community have been advocating for a long time. The Meadows intersection has become increasingly congested, reflecting the town’s growth as a thoroughfare to the Fleurieu Peninsula and its expanding residential population. 

“Our council has recently invested $1.2 million to upgrade Nottage Road and we welcome the South Australian Government’s support in completing the intersection improvements. 

“This upgrade will significantly improve road safety and connectivity in the region, marking a major milestone in Mount Barker’s infrastructure development,” Mount Barker District Council Mayor David Leach said. 

Adelaide Hills Productivity and Road Safety Package map (source: SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport)

From mid-2025, works will get underway on the Onkaparinga Valley Road, Nairne Road, and Junction Road intersection upgrade along with works for the intersection upgrade at Junction and Jones Road in Balhannah. 

The Onkaparinga Valley Road, Nairne Road and Junction Road intersection upgrade will deliver a single-lane roundabout to improve road safety and traffic flow through the intersection for all road users including heavy vehicles. This project will also upgrade pedestrian refuges, ramps and footpaths. 

The Junction Road and Jones Road intersection upgrade, on the other hand, will include new line marking, signage and upgraded road lighting. 

The two projects are expected to support 40 jobs during construction. 

The final concept design for the two upgrades will be available for viewing at information sessions to be held at the Balhannah Soldier’s Memorial Hall on 12 June from 5pm to 7pm and on 14 June from 11am to 2pm. 

The design has also been completed for the upgrade of North East Road and Torrens Valley Road. This project aims to address concerns about the poor quality of the road surface as well as the narrow, tight curves that can make it difficult to safely pass cyclists. 

This upgrade will deliver a new road surface to improve skid resistance alongside safety barriers to protect motorists from roadside hazards. This project will also involve road and curve widening and new line marking, including centreline audio tactile line marking. 

Other works will include vegetation trimming to help improve sight lines, updated signage, and better clarity on traffic direction to help reduce the risk of accidents. 

These works are due to begin in mid-2025 and will support 70 jobs. More information about the timing, early works, and planned traffic management will be shared to the community closer to the start of construction. 

Roadside tree trimming and preparation works will also get underway on Kangarilla Road at multiple locations between Clarendon and Kangarilla until mid-June of this year. This will ensure clearer lines of sight and safer traffic conditions for all road users. This project is anticipated to support 25 jobs during construction. 

Building on the Adelaide Hills upgrades, the South Australian Government will also deliver important safety upgrades to the junctions along River Road. Construction will commence soon following the award of the construction contract to BMD Constructions Pty Ltd. 

The River Road Improvements project will include widening the junction of River Road and Mount Barker Road to improve safety and allow trucks to turn left onto Mount Barker Road and right onto River Road without encroaching on the opposing lanes. 

Works will also deliver a new pedestrian refuge on Mount Barker Road to the east of the River Road junction, and new footpaths and pram ramps will be installed to improve pedestrian safety. 

Targeted road resurfacing, upgrades to drainage and lighting as well as improved signage and line marking will also be included in the project. Moreover, bus bays on Mount Barker Road will be relocated and partially indented to allow traffic to safely pass a stopped bus. 

Project map (source: SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport)

The River Road Junction Improvements project will also upgrade the junction of Strathalbyn Road and River Road. 

This project will involve building a new right turn lane from Strathalbyn Road into River Road, road widening and targeted resurfacing, drainage and lighting upgrades, plus roadside protection and improved signage and line marking. Other works will include changes for pedestrian access to the Heysen Trail near the Strathalbyn Road and River Road junction. 

Meanwhile, minor improvements will be delivered at the junction of River Road with Kangaroo Reef, Sawmill Gully and Fairview roads. Works will include some road widening and improved signage and line marking, while the River Road and Fairview Road junction will be realigned to improve sight lines. 

The River Road Junction Improvements project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments, and will support 60 jobs during construction. Main construction works are expected to start in July and be completed in late 2025. 

“The Malinauskas Labor Government is committed to making roads in the Adelaide Hills safer for all road users while minimising the impacts on local businesses and residents, providing a more pleasant experience for all who visit and live in the beautiful Hills region. 

“Feedback from the local community is crucial and has helped inform the designs for the junction and road upgrades in this package of works to ensure they work well for people who regularly travel in this area. 

“We want to hear what’s most important to the community, so we encourage you to attend the information sessions or provide feedback by email or phone on any of the current designs opening for consultation. 

“I’m also pleased to announce that BMD Constructions has been awarded the contract to deliver the River Road junction improvements, meaning we can now crack on with these works, adding to the safety improvements already undertaken along the road. 

“Safety for drivers and pedestrians is a major priority, but we also want to ensure nearby businesses can thrive and these upgrades will work toward making that happen,” Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis said. 

Source: Government of South Australia – Media Releases; Government of South Australia – Department for Infrastructure and Transport (1, 2, 3); Roads & Infrastructure Australia