V8 road closures: RAA suggests commuters consider working from home
Ahead of road closures around the CBD for the revamped Adelaide 500, the RAA has suggested commuters ‘consider working from home’ to avoid extended traffic delays during peak hours.
The Adelaide 500 race in 2020 before it was cancelled by the former state government. Photo: David Mariuz/AAP
RAA Senior Manager of Road Safety Charles Mountain told ABC radio that some road closures for the race which was last held in 2020 will start today.
“By the time next Monday comes around, we’ll have the full range of closures which will include Wakefield Road, Bartels Road, Dequetteville Terrace and some significant changes to Fullarton Road,” Mountain said.
“The Britannia roundabout is taken out of the equation and the traffic moves very slowly.
“All the traffic that would normally use these roads has to go somewhere else and really the only options are either North Terrace, the bottom end of Norwood Parade into the city, or back out onto Greenhill Road.”
Mountain said these closures can add up to 30 minutes in travel times, with most road closures around the CBD track remaining until December 6, and some until December 8.
“There’s no denying the traffic will be much heavier on most of the key routes, so the message we’re telling people is if you still need to come in on these corridors or travel into the city, or very close to the perimeter of the city, then think about leaving earlier,” Mountain said.
“The other option, which of course wasn’t available for a lot of people back in 2020 when the event last occurred is to work from home.
“Perhaps this might be a good opportunity to do that for a few days when the impacts of the closures are at their height, that may be a good way to avoid some of the stress and challenge.”
The Adelaide 500, normally held in March was revived on an election promise by the State Government and will occur from Dec 1-4.
It is being held at the same time as the former Adelaide Grand Prix, last held in 1995.
Yesterday, Minister for Police Joe Szakacs launched the ‘What Happens On The Track, Stays On The Track. Keep It Off The Road’ Adelaide 500 road safety campaign.
The advertising campaign aims to deter irresponsible driving, urging motorists not to emulate the speeds seen during the race, on the street.
“I’m excited to see the Supercars back at their home in Adelaide. And I want to see every racegoer get safely back to their home too,” Szakacs said.
“Highly trained, professional race drivers like Todd Hazelwood can handle Supercars on the track, but people should not try to copy their heroes out on the road.“
South Australia recorded 99 lives lost during 2021, above the 93 lives in 2020 and above the previous five-year average (2016-2020) of 95 lives lost per year.
