Duplication of Main South Road between Aldinga and Sellicks Beach opens to traffic today, Saturday 7 February. 

This completes the entire Main South Road duplication project, which includes a new interchange at Aldinga, featuring a new underpass and improved crossings to Aldinga and Willunga, as well as the dual carriageway between Aldinga and Sellicks Beach.

Stage 2 of the Main South Road duplication from Aldinga to Sellicks Beach has been delivered as part of the $810.4 million Fleurieu Connections Project, with funding contributions of $221.6 million from the federal government and $588.8 million from the state government.

Main South Road is a critical link between Adelaide and the Fleurieu region and carries around 19,000 vehicles a day, with traffic volumes expected to grow to 26,000 vehicles a day by 2036.

Along with the duplication, installation of wide centre medians and wire rope safety barriers to separate northbound and southbound traffic aims to improve safety and help prevent head-on crashes.

Other features include two U-turn bays to facilitate local access, intersection upgrades at Hart and Colville Roads, Norman and Rogers Roads, and Hahn and Cox Roads, as well as upgrades at Perth Street and a realigned Sellicks Beach Road that improves sight lines and safety.

The project also includes the construction of a shared use path along the western side of Main South Road.

This new path finishes a continuous, dedicated pedestrian and cyclist link from Seaford to Sellicks Beach, encouraging active transport and better connecting local communities.

The state government says approximately 95 per cent of project contracts were awarded to South Australian businesses. 

“More than 9,000 tonnes of glass – the equivalent of 43 million recycled glass bottles including wine bottles from the region – was repurposed in the construction of the roadway from Aldinga to Sellicks Beach. This demonstrates how sustainable construction materials can be used on a major infrastructure project.

“The focus on sustainability has also extended to the natural environment, with close to 100,000 native trees, shrubs and understory planted along the corridor.

Retiring Mawson MP Leon Bignell says: “This is an important and historic moment for the people of the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island who now have one of the best and safest roads in South Australia.

“We built this road to honour those who died and were seriously injured on the old, unsafe South Rd and it would not have happened without a tremendous community campaign led by the Main South Road Action Group.”

Speed restrictions will remain in place on the newly opened duplication and the underpass over the coming months as finishing works are completed. 

Drivers are asked to take care and observe signage.