The southbound on and off-ramps at the new Aldinga Interchange are now open to traffic, as stage two of the Main South Road duplication from Aldinga to Sellicks Beach moves closer to completion.

The Aldinga Interchange realigns the junctions of Aldinga Beach Road and Aldinga Road to create a safer and more efficient connection to and from Main South Road and smoother connections to the Fleurieu region.

Main South Road carries around 19,000 vehicles a day and that is only set to increase, with traffic volumes expected to grow to 26,000 vehicles a day by 2036.

The ramps at the Aldinga interchange form part of the future permanent layout where Main South Road traffic will flow freely under the Aldinga bridge.

They will provide dedicated access to and from Aldinga, improving traffic efficiency and connectivity across the southern section of the project.

In the coming weeks, traffic will temporarily shift back on to the newly constructed southbound carriageway on Main South Road between Aldinga Road and Perth Street. This will enable finishing works on the northbound carriageway to be carried out.

The Aldinga Bridge, a key feature of the Aldinga Interchange, opened to traffic in March this year.

Sustainability is an important focus of the project with the equivalent of more than 31 million recycled glass bottles, or almost 7,000 tonnes of glass, to be repurposed in the construction of the new roadway from Aldinga to Sellicks Beach.

The recycled glass replaces a portion of natural sand in the asphalt and is diverted from the local waste stream.

The landscaping program for the stage two duplication of Main South Road will include more than 100,000 trees, shrubs, understory and aquatic plants along the road corridor.

SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Emily Bourke says the opening of the south-bound on and off-ramps at the new Aldinga interchange is a major milestone in an important project that will create better connections for motorists.

“Over the coming months, you’ll start to see some major changes taking shape across the project, including new road connections, traffic switches and the finishing touches, with crews working hard to keep things moving as we progress towards completion.“

Stage two of the Main South Road duplication between Aldinga Beach Road and Sellicks Beach is jointly funded by the federal and state governments as part of the $810.4 million Fleurieu Connections project.

The federal government is committing $221.6 million, with the state government providing $588.8 million. Full completion is expected in 2026.