Sunday Traffic Alert: AFL Round 3 and CBD Emergency Exercise to Cause Major Closures

Summary of Sunday Traffic and Public Transport

Commuters and visitors to the Adelaide CBD this Sunday, 29 March 2026, should prepare for significant shifts in traffic patterns and public transport availability. A combination of AFL Round 3 at Adelaide Oval, a large-scale multi-agency emergency services exercise on North Terrace, and various community Neighbour Day celebrations will result in several road closures and bus detours throughout the metropolitan area. Officials are advising residents to plan ahead and allow for significant travel delays, particularly in the city center and western suburbs.

Major CBD Road Closures

The City of Adelaide has confirmed several high-impact road closures for today:

• North Terrace Emergency Exercise: The eastbound lanes of North Terrace between George Street and Victoria Street are closed from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. This is to facilitate a major multi-agency emergency services exercise.
• Adelaide Oval AFL Precinct: To manage the crowds for the AFL Round 3 match, War Memorial Drive will be closed between the Riverbank Footbridge and King William Road from 9:00 am to 4:15 pm.
• North Terrace Afternoon Restrictions: Further restrictions will occur between 2:25 pm and 4:15 pm. Eastbound lanes between Victoria Street and King William Road, and westbound lanes between Pulteney Street and King William Street, will be restricted to manage high pedestrian volumes.
• Community Events: Claxton Street (between Gouger Street and Wright Street) is closed from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for a Neighbour Day event. In North Adelaide, Stanley Street is closed between Jerningham Street and Fuller Street from 10:45 am to 5:15 pm for similar community festivities.

Public Transport and Detours

Adelaide Metro is operating "Footy Express" services today, providing free travel on all public transport for those holding a valid AFL match ticket. However, passengers on regular routes should note the following disruptions:

• Marion Road and Anzac Highway: Significant detours and stop closures are in place today. Routes affected include the 248, 248A, M44, and M44C. Commuters are encouraged to use the Adelaide Metro app to find the nearest temporary boarding locations.
• Smart Road: Stop 45 (South side) in St Agnes is closed for the duration of the day to accommodate localized maintenance.
• Easter Holiday Reminder: Looking ahead, Adelaide Metro has also issued a reminder that the entire tram network will be closed for maintenance over the Easter long weekend, starting Thursday, 2 April.

Arterial Roadworks and Traffic Hotspots

Beyond the city center, motorists should be cautious of congestion in several key areas:

• Gepps Cross: Heavy traffic and queues are expected along Main North Road until 1:00 pm due to the high volume of visitors to the Gepps Cross Treasure Market.
• Gallipoli Underpass: The off-ramp from Anzac Highway to Eurilpa Avenue remains restricted to a single lane for ongoing utility works.
• South Road (Torrensville): Drivers are reminded that the new traffic alignment is in place; the right-turn from South Road into West Thebarton Road is now permanently closed as part of the ongoing North-South Corridor upgrades.

Motorists are encouraged to utilize the western end of the CBD for parking where possible or rely on the O-Bahn and train networks to avoid the heaviest congestion near the North Terrace and Adelaide Oval precincts.