Mad March Finale: Major CBD Road Closures and Arterial Delays This Sunday

Festival Season Reaches Peak as Adelaide Prepares for Busy Sunday

As the 2026 Adelaide Festival draws to a close and the Adelaide Fringe enters its final week, commuters and visitors should prepare for significant traffic disruptions across the city this Sunday, 15 March. A combination of major sporting events, community street parties, and ongoing infrastructure projects will see several key thoroughfares closed or restricted throughout the day.

Major CBD and North Adelaide Road Closures

Motorists are advised to avoid the northern and eastern fringes of the CBD where possible. Key closures include:

• War Memorial Drive: Closed between Frome Road and Bundeys Road for the Australian Athletics Half Marathon and Race Walking Championships. Expect delays for traffic moving toward the Adelaide Oval precinct.
• East End Unleashed: Rundle Street, East Terrace, and Rundle Road will be closed to traffic from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. High pedestrian volumes are expected around the Garden of Unearthly Delights and Gluttony.
• Stanley Street (North Adelaide): Fully closed between Jerningham Street and Fuller Street from 10:45 am to 5:15 pm for a local Neighbour Day event.
• Hyde Street: The Fringe street party closure between Stockley Alley and Pirie Street remains in effect until 1:00 am Sunday morning.

Arterial Roadworks and T2D Updates

Outside the city center, significant works continue on major transport corridors. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport has confirmed that the new traffic alignment on South Road in Torrensville is now permanent. Drivers traveling north on South Road are reminded they can no longer turn right into West Thebarton Road. Additionally, the off-ramp at the Gallipoli Underpass (Anzac Highway to Eurilpa Avenue) remains restricted to a single lane due to utility relocation.

Public Transport Detours

Adelaide Metro has issued several alerts for Sunday commuters, primarily centered around the Marion Road and Anzac Highway intersection. From Saturday through Monday, significant detours are in place affecting the following:

• Route 100, 248, and M44: These services will undergo detours and missed stops in the Glandore and Plympton areas.
• East End Services: Multiple bus routes will be diverted from Grenfell Street and Rundle Street after 4:00 pm to accommodate festival crowds. Passengers are encouraged to use the Botanic Gardens tram stop as an alternative.
• Western Suburbs: Routes 286, 287, and 288 continue to follow detours near West Thebarton Road due to ongoing T2D construction.

With high pedestrian density expected on North Terrace and King William Road for the final Adelaide Festival performances, commuters are urged to allow at least 20 minutes of extra travel time or utilize the rail network to bypass surface-level congestion.