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Heysen Tunnels

{{Short description|Tunnels in South Australia, Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Infobox tunnel

| name = Heysen Tunnels

| image = Heysentunnel.jpg

| image_size =

| alt = Road leading out of the black opening of a tunnel

| caption = The portal of one of the Heysen tunnels

| official_name =

| other_name =

| location = Adelaide Hills south east of Adelaide

| coordinates =

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| status =

| route = {{AUshield|SA|M1}} South Eastern Freeway {{small|(2017-present)}}

{{AUshield|NH|M1}} South Eastern Freeway {{small|(2000–2017)}}

| start =

| end =

| startwork =

| opened = 5 March 2000

| closed =

| rebuilt =

| reopen =

| owner =

| operator =

| traffic = automotive, including commuters and heavy freight

| character =

| toll = N/A

| vpd = 45,700 (2015){{cite map |url=http://www.dptiapps.com.au/traffic-maps/aadt_mt12_colour.pdf |title=Annual Average Daily Traffic Estimates 24 hour two-way flow |date=1 March 2015 |id=Map MT12 |publisher=Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |accessdate=3 April 2015}}

| engineer =

| construction = 1998

| length = {{convert|500|m}}

| lanes = 3 in each tunnel

| speed = {{convert|90|km/h}}

| hielevation =

| lowelevation =

| height = {{convert|5.3|m}}{{cite web |url=http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/content/adelaide_to_melbourne_road_corridor/south_eastern_freeway |title=South Eastern Freeway |at=Over-Height vehicles |publisher=Government of South Australia, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure |date=10 February 2015 |accessdate=4 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408152938/http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/content/adelaide_to_melbourne_road_corridor/south_eastern_freeway |archive-date=8 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}

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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.

Construction

The tunnels were excavated using a tunnelling machine normally used in heavy-duty mining operations which tunnelled through {{convert|500|m}} of rock for each tunnel at an average rate of {{convert|3|m}} per day.{{cite web|title=Heysen Tunnels Construction |url=http://www.ezyreg.sa.gov.au/transport_network/projects/adel_crafers/heysen.asp |date=13 August 2004 |publisher=Government of South Australia, Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure |accessdate=2007-07-14 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831214428/http://ezyreg.sa.gov.au/transport_network/projects/adel_crafers/heysen.asp |archivedate=31 August 2007 |url-status=dead }} The tunnels were completed in 1998 and opened in March 2000.South Australia Fleetline issue 265 Match 2000 page 45{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421093948/https://dpti.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/completed_projects/the_adelaide_crafers_highway |title=The Adelaide Crafers Highway Project |url=https://dpti.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/completed_projects/the_adelaide_crafers_highway |archive-date=2019-04-21 |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure}}

Operation

Each tunnel carries three lanes of traffic. As at 2015, 45,700 vehicles passed through them daily. The maximum height of vehicles permitted in the tunnels is {{convert|5.3|m}}, 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.

The tunnels are named after artist Sir Hans Heysen.

Location

File:Devil's Elbow cropped.jpg: 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

{{Portal|Australian Roads}}

References

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{{coord|34.974089|S|138.676072|E|region:AU-SA_type:landmark|display=title}}

Category:Tunnels completed in 2000

Category:Tunnels in South Australia

Category:Road tunnels in Australia

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