Connect - 16 April 2021

Line marking innovation

The Northern Connector team are working on a first for this state, with the testing of new line markings on concrete sections of the road to improve visibility.

Last weekend both carriage ways were closed to enable black contrasting line marking to be trialled. All ‘standard’ white line markings were refreshed while we had the closure in place.

Two designs are now being assessed: one in which the white line has a complete black border and the other which has a black section at the end furthest from an approaching car.

This video below shows the original white line only, the line with full black border and line with a black section.

The trial will run for several months before a final decision is made on the solution that provides the best visibility to maximise road safety.

Ramadan

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan started last Monday evening (12 April) for our Muslim colleagues and will end when the sun sets on Wednesday, 12 May. They will then enjoy Eid, ‘The festival of breaking the fast’, a social event that is celebrated by family, friends and neighbours.

Ramadan commemorates the handing down of the Quran to the Prophet Mohammed and sees Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset, seeking spiritual, psychological and physical purification: a time for reflection, prayer and renewal of faith.

There are two greetings for Ramadan, ‘Ramadan Mubarek’ (‘Have a blessed Ramadan’) and ‘Ramadan Kareem’ (‘Have a generous Ramadan’). I am sure your Muslim colleagues would appreciate you using one.

To community members and staff marking the holy month of Ramadan, I extend my very best wishes and wish you a ‘Ramadan Mubarak’.

Let there be light

While on the subject of road safety visibility, I must acknowledge the photometric testing work being done at Walkley Heights by Jeff Graham and George Spartalis. The way the human eye perceives light is vital to the effectiveness of road signs and line markings at night or in low-light conditions.

The Walkley Heights lab, which has unique facilities such as its specialised darkroom, applies photometric benchmarks to assess the ability of materials and treatments to provide visibility. It also assesses durability and any issues that may impact the deployment of any subsequently chosen technology.

Jeff and George are kept busy as new technologies continue to be developed. Their work ensures continuous improvement for the safety of our road network.

Staff Spotlight falls on …

A familiar face to many in the department’s CBD offices is Colin Macey, one of our Senior Desktop Services Officers who is called on to visit workplaces when remote assistance can’t fix an IT issue.

Starting with TransAdelaide back in 1997 as a Graduate Analyst Programmer, Colin has seen many changes and iterations of the department. Always adaptable and acknowledged as a team player, Colin’s enthusiasm and ability to problem solve is highly valued.

Friday Flashback

After our visit to the Adelaide Metro Information Centre, today’s flashback revisits a story on TV show Beyond 2000 looking at the State Transport Authority’s new system for helping public transport customers in 1992. Enjoy!