Businesses are questioning the location and timing of two relatively minor roadwork projects that are costing them trade in Adelaide.
The installation of a raised zebra, or wombat crossing, that has been underway since April is causing delays for commuters in the hills at Crafers, but it has also reduced the number of car parks along Main Street.
“They’re actually directing people to park in the Park’n’Ride, which is 200 metres up the road, or go and use our neighbour’s car parks, but they need their car parks,” said Crafers Bakehouse owner Sarah Hutson.
“It’s a struggle and it’s impacted everyone’s business. It’s definitely impacted ours. People can’t just pull in and out.”
Workers are installing a wombat crossing, footpaths and drainage but it has removed car parks in Crafers. (Supplied: Sarah Hutson)
Ms Hutson said Crafers was the only stop along the South Eastern Freeway where drivers could safely exit, pull into a town and exit again within a few minutes.
“With the amount of caravans, boats and trucks that come and have a rest stop, I just don’t think a lot of thought was put into it,”
she said.
She believed it would have been better located further north and away from businesses but said she was told by Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) workers that it would be “too close to the freeway”.
“But once you come off the exit, there’s a huge stretch of road they have to come down, then there’s the Park’n’Ride, then there’s the roundabout … so I don’t think that would have been a problem,” she said.
“I think it was just that they had committed to it, so they were going to do it.”
Addressing ‘pedestrian demand’
A DIT spokesperson said the crossing was being installed to make it “safer for pedestrians to cross Main Street in Crafers”.
The works in Crafers also include new drainage, street lighting and footpaths. (891 ABC Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)
“Adelaide Hills Council led the assessment of pedestrian crossing locations and crossing treatments, with the final location and type of crossing nominated by council as the preferred option,” a spokesperson said.
“This location aligned with areas of highest pedestrian demand, as supported by the September 2024 cyclist and pedestrian survey initiated by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
“In addition, a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit will be introduced between Mt Lofty Summit Road and Piccadilly Road.”
Works are due to finish in a few weeks “weather permitting”.
Local commuter Justin Pounsett was critical of the time taken to build the crossing.
“There’s been times when traffic’s been delayed around school pick-up time, five to 10 minutes getting across and backed up over the bridge,” he said.
“Obviously, you’ve got the traffic coming off the freeway.
“It’s a tight area and then they go down to one lane. The timing of when they do it is often the worst.”
The project is being delivered under the $168 million Road Safety Program, jointly funded 50:50 by the federal and South Australian governments over three years.
Arterial route blocked
Meanwhile on the Adelaide flats in Melrose Park, a cafe owner has noticed a drop in about 40 per cent of trade due to nearby upgrades at the intersection with Caulfield Avenue.
Detours are in place at the intersection between Winston and Caulfield avenues. (891 ABC Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)
“We actually weren’t informed about these particular roadworks,” The Middle Store owner Rose Adams told 891 ABC Adelaide.
“We just had a really bad day and then the next day it was another really bad day, and we were like, ‘What on earth is going on?’
“It just so happened that neither of us had come from the side that was blocked off, and had come from a different side where everything was business as usual.
“We had no opportunity to prepare ourselves or prepare our customers.
“I can only imagine what’s happening to the guys that are literally out the front of the section.”
Winston Avenue is a minor arterial road in Adelaide’s inner-south that had been receiving significantly more traffic due to the North-South Corridor construction at nearby South Road.
The intersection upgrade left it completely blocked at the intersection and detours are in place.
Fencing borders hospitality businesses on Winston Avenue in Melrose Park. (891 ABC Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)
The City of Mitcham said kerbing was underway at the Winston and Caulfield avenues intersection following its upgrade that started in May, and the intersection was expected to reopen to traffic by early July 2026 “subject to weather conditions”.
“We’re not against these roadworks,” Ms Adams said.
“We think development to this street is wonderful because in the long run it will support all of us.
“I just think it’s more about the timing and the consultation, as there wasn’t any.
“They could have picked a much better time to do roadworks, you know, where it’s not constantly raining and there aren’t delays.”
