Heysen Tunnels

The Heysen Tunnels are twin tube road tunnels which carry the South Eastern Freeway under Eagle On The Hill in the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia.

Heysen Tunnels
Road leading out of the black opening of a tunnel
The portal of one of the Heysen tunnels
Overview
LocationAdelaide Hills south east of Adelaide
Route South Eastern Freeway (2017-present)
South Eastern Freeway (2000–2017)
Operation
Constructed1998
Opened5 March 2000
Trafficautomotive, including commuters and heavy freight
TollN/A
Vehicles per day45,700 (2015)[1]
Technical
Length500 metres (1,600 ft)
No. of lanes3 in each tunnel
Operating speed90 kilometres per hour (56 mph)
Tunnel clearance5.3 metres (17 ft)[2]

Construction

The tunnels were excavated using a tunnelling machine normally used in heavy-duty mining operations which tunnelled through 500 metres (1,600 ft) of rock for each tunnel at an average rate of 3 metres (9.8 ft) per day.[3] The tunnels were completed in 1998 and opened in March 2000.[4][5]

Operation

Each tunnel carries three lanes of traffic. As at 2015, 45,700 vehicles passed through them daily.[1] The maximum height of vehicles permitted in the tunnels is 5.3 metres (17 ft), the same as the Crafers and Mt Osmond interchanges. Laser height detectors monitor traffic to provide warnings to drivers before they attempt to enter the tunnel.[2]

The tunnels are named after artist Sir Hans Heysen.

Location
Adelaide-Crafers Highway: Eagle on the Hill (3) is directly above the Heysen Tunnels entrance (2), with the old road winding round from Devil's Elbow (1).

See also

icon Australian Roads portal

References
  1. Annual Average Daily Traffic Estimates 24 hour two-way flow (PDF) (Map). Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. 1 March 2015. Map MT12. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. "South Eastern Freeway". Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. 10 February 2015. Over-Height vehicles. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  3. "Heysen Tunnels Construction". Government of South Australia, Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure. 13 August 2004. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2007.
  4. South Australia Fleetline issue 265 Match 2000 page 45
  5. "The Adelaide Crafers Highway Project". Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019.


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