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The Australian Government has given the go ahead to start a $4.5 million planning study to identify the preferred route for the north-south corridor along South Road between the Port River Expressway and Grand Junction Road. Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, said the planned north-south corridor in Adelaide is a significant transport initiative that will help to meet the arterial road network demands for freight and passenger vehicles. "The north-south movement of people and goods between Darlington and Wingfield is one of the most important components of the road transport system in metropolitan Adelaide," Mr Albanese said. "As well as reducing congestion, this link provides connections to the major intermodal transport hubs of Adelaide Airport, Port Adelaide, Outer Harbor and the Islington Rail Terminal, as well as providing access to the bulk of Adelaides industry activity in the north-west. "The upgrade of this section of South Road will also improve road safety and deliver environmental benefits by reducing stop-start travel. "The Government's planning study is part of the $12.6 million brought forward in the May 2008 Federal Budget to make an early start on planning works on South Road," Mr Albanese said. South Australian Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon, said the upgrade will create a non-stop two-kilometre corridor along the existing alignment of South Road, utilising grade separation at South Terrace, the Wingfield railway line, Cormack Road and Grand Junction Road. "The planning study will be undertaken by a group of specialist planning consultants, consisting of Connell Wagner, QED and GHD, and will be completed by April 2010," Mr Conlon said. "The section of South Road from Grand Junction Road to the Port River Expressway currently experiences significant traffic delays with the longest occurring at the intersection with Grand Junction Road. "Current daily traffic volumes on this section of South Road range from 35,000 vehicles per day (north of Grand Junction Road), to 47,000 vehicles per day (south of Grand Junction Road). "Commercial vehicles comprise some 15-18 per cent of this traffic," Mr Conlon said. Mr Albanese said the Australian Government will provide $500 million in funding between now and 2014 towards construction of South Road flyovers at the major bottlenecks at Grand Junction Road; Cormack Road and the Wingfield railway line; and Sturt Road. The Australian Government commitment includes $70 million to plan for a traffic light free road all the way from the Southern Expressway to the Port River Expressway.
Media Contacts
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Jeff Singleton (
Mr Albanese's Office ) |
0410 476 890
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Sam Ion (
Mr Conlon's Office ) |
0417 866 097
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