Road Photos & Information: South Australia
Northern Expressway, Northern Connector, North-South Motorway, South Road and Southern Expressway (M2 / A2)
Ward Belt to Huntfield Heights
Former Alignment
Statistics:
- Length:
- 18 km
- Termini:
- Northern: Main South Road (A13), Sturt
- Southern: Main South Road (A13) at Huntfield Heights
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Huntfield Heights, Noarlunga Downs, Noarlunga Centre, Christie Downs, Lonsdale, Reynella, Sheidow Park, Trott Park, O'Halloran Hill, Darlington and Sturt
Route Numbering:
- Current: M2
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- 06780
General Information:
The Southern Expressway was Australia's only one way motorway. At certain times of the day, it changed direction, depending on the peak flows of traffic. However upgrades have made it a standard dual carriageway motorway, with traffic travelling in both directions simultaneously.
At the location of the route, provision had been made for the development of a north-south transportation corridor serving the southern region since the late 1960s. In 1984 the then State Government announced the Third Arterial Project, the development of which was subsequently split into two phases: the upgrading of Main South Road and Marion Road in the Darlington area and the construction of a new road from Bedford Park / Darlington to Reynella. The Southern Expressway Project, announced in March 1995, forms the second phase of this project. 1
The route featured electronic overhead signs at the approaches to the entry and exit points indicate the direction of traffic with crosses and arrows, red lights on the side of the road warned motorists attempting to travel in the opposite direction to the flow of traffic and also roadside signs along the Southern Expressway flashed in hazardous situations - yellow to advise motorists to slow down or red to stop. 2
The table below indicates traffic flow direction times: 2
Traffic Flow Direction Times (Weekdays):
| Citybound | Closed for Changeover | Southbound | Closed for Changeover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 am - 12:30 pm | 12:30 pm - 2 pm | 2 pm - 12:30 am | 12:30 am - 2 am |
Traffic Flow Direction Times (Weekends and Public Holidays):
| Citybound | Closed for Changeover | Southbound | Closed for Changeover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 pm - 12:30 am | 12:30 am - 2 am | 2 am - 12:30 pm | 12:30 pm - 2 pm |
History:
- March 21 1995: The SA government announced that it would begin the construction in December of the Southern Expressway, from Darlington to Old Noarlunga. 3
- December 1997: Stage 1 of the Southern Expressway opened. 4
- September 2002: Built Environs, in a joint venture with LR & M, completed the $48 000 000 second stage of the Southern Expressway between Noarlunga and Reynella. As well as laying down roadway, the project involved the construction of major earthworks, four bridges, five culverts, landscaping, lighting and noise mounds, and required 15 000 square metres of retaining walls and 1 200 000 cubic metres of cut-to-fill, including 200 000 cubic metres of blasted rock. 5
- May 2004: Upgrade an arrestor bed, located approximately 500 metres from the South Road and Marion Road intersections. 6
- June 2004: New lighting installed beneath road bridges along Stage 2 of the Southern Expressway, between Panalatinga Road at Reynella to Main South Road, Old Noarlunga. 7
- May 2008: Installation of a variable message sign and variable speed limit signs between Majors Road and Marion Road. 8
- 2011: Duplication of Southern Expressway commenced.
- 3 August 2014: Duplication of Southern Expressway opened to traffic. 9
This page concentrates on the former alignment between Ward Belt and Huntfield Heights
Huntfield Heights to Sturt
Advance Directional Sign:
Changeable AD sign, northbound on Main South Road (A13) at Noarlunga Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign over Main South Rd at Noarlunga Downs at the junction with Southern Expwy (M2), September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Changeable One Way Sign:
Changeable one way sign at Noarlunga Downs on the Southern Expressway (M2). When not showing One Way, it shows Wrong Way Go Back or No Entry. September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Perry Path:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it heads northbound under Perry Path at Noarlunga Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Peppermint Path:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it heads northbound under Peppermint Path at Noarlunga Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Noarlunga Downs, for the Beach Road interchange, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Honeypot Road:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it heads northbound under Honeypot Rd at Noarlunga Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Beach Road Interchange:
ID sign at the Beach Rd interchange at Noarlunga Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Poznan Path:
Poznan Path and Beach Road interchange at Noarlunga Centre, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Beach Road Interchange:
The split between Southern Expressway (M2) and Beach Road at Noarlunga Centre, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Beach Road Interchange:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it passes through the Beach Rd interchange at Noarlunga Centre, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Elizabeth Road:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it travels under Elizabeth Rd in Christie Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Flaxmill Road:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it travels under Flaxmill Rd in Christie Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Glenhelen Path:
Glenhelen Path pedestrian bridge at Christie Downs, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Lonsdale for Sherriffs Rd, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
O'Sullivan Beach Road:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it passes under O'Sullivan Beach Road at Lonsdale, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Sherriffs Road Interchange:
Intersection directional sign at the right-hand exit of Sherriffs Road in Lonsdale, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Sherriffs Road Interchange:
The right-handed interchange with Sherriffs Road at Lonsdale, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Gantry:
ID and AD signs on Sherriffs Rd approaching Southern Expwy (M2) and Brodie Rd at Reynella, July 2004.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Sugarbush Path:
Southern Expressway (M2) as it passes under Sugarbush Path in Reynella, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Moore Road Overpass:
Southern Expwy (M2) as it passes under Moore Rd in Reynella, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Young Street:
Southern Expressway (M2) at Sheidow Park as it passes under Young Street, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Glenthorne Path:
Glenthorne Path bridge at Trott Park, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Majors Road Overpass:
Southern Expwy (M2) at Trott Park as it passes under Majors Rd, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Steep Descent Ahead:
Steep descent ahead warning signs as the Southern Expressway (M2) makes its way down O'Halloran Hill, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at O'Halloran Hill for the junction at Sturt with Main South Rd (A13) and Marion Rd (A14), September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Arrester Bed Ahead Sign:
Sign at Darlington indicating distance and entrance to the arrester bed at the bottom of the hill. September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Variable Message Sign:
VMS sign at Darlington showing access to Marion Road (A14) interchange, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Arrester Bed Ahead Sign:
Sign at Darlington indicating distance to the arrester bed at the bottom of the hill. September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Changeable AD sign at the interchange with Marion Road (A14) at Sturt, September 2009. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Michael Greenslade from December 2003.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Signs:
ID sign assembly at the interchange with Marion Rd (A14) at Sturt, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
End M2 / Main South Road Intersection:
The northern terminus of M2 - Main South Road (A13) at Sturt, September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Sturt to Huntfield Heights
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on Beach Rd at Morphett Vale approaching Southern Expressway (M2), July 2004.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Southern Expressway:
View over Southern Expwy (M2) from Beach Rd at Morphett Vale, July 2004.
Image © Michael Greenslade
Beach Road Interchange:
Reversible ramp at the Beach Rd interchange, Morphett Vale, July 2004.
Image © Michael Greenslade
2 SA Government, Transport SA, Traffic Operations, Southern Expressway Traffic Management System Page.
3 Green Left, Expressway Opposition in Adelaide.
4 SA Government, Parliament of South Australia, Southern Expressway Stage 2 Submission to the Parliamentary Public Works Committee, Proposal.
5 Built Environs, Southern Expressway Stage 2.
6 SA Government, Transport SA, Media Releases, Safety Improvements on the Southern Expressway.
7 SA Government, Transport SA, Media Releases, New Lighting Night Hours.
8 SA Government, Premier of South Australia, Mike Rann News, Safety Upgrade to Southern Expressway.
9 SA Government, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, Southern Expressway Duplication.