South Eastern Freeway Upgrade - Heysen Tunnels Temporary Traffic Restrictions
Department of Infrastructure and Transport will be testing new safety equipment installed as part of the Heysen Tunnels upgrade.
When: Saturday 11 January to Sunday 19 January 2025, weather permitting.
Hours of work: 7pm to 6am (each night).
Where: South Eastern Freeway, Adelaide-bound and Crafers-bound Heysen Tunnels and approaches.
How this affects you: To minimise impacts to road users, DIT will undertake the testing at night, and there will be some changes to traffic conditions during this process.
Some nights, they will need to close one tunnel for testing. Traffic in both directions will use the other tunnel with a contraflow arrangement in place.
Other nights, they will need to close one or both tunnels and their approaches and divert traffic via Mount Barker Road. Please read below for planned traffic arrangements during this time.
Adelaide-bound traffic
7pm to 9pm: Initial speed and lane restrictions for Adelaide-bound traffic.
9pm to 6am: All road users, including emergency services and heavy vehicles, will need to detour via Mount Barker Road.
Crafers-bound traffic
7pm to 11pm: Initial speed and lane restrictions for Crafers-bound traffic.
11pm to 6am: Heavy vehicles will be able to use the South Eastern Freeway but will need to wait for the freeway to reopen after short intermittent closures in the vicinity of the Heysen Tunnels. Each closure will extend for approximately 15 minutes.
All other road users, including emergency services, will need to detour via Mount Barker Road.
DIT will notify road users about upcoming detours via onsite messaging boards.
Speed and lane restrictions will be in place. Please plan ahead, allow extra travel time and follow the detour signs and direction of traffic management staff. We’ll have temporary electronic signs in place to direct road users while the permanent electronic signs are being tested.
Although delays may occur, there will be no change to public transport services.
Safety ramps are available on Mount Barker Road (Eagle on the Hill) and the South Eastern Freeway (safety ramp between Heysen Tunnels and Tollgate).
In the event of a bushfire, other emergency, or on catastrophic fire days, all lanes will be open in both tunnels and posted speed limits will be reinstated for both carriageways.
