• Published: Monday, 19 December 2022

Tom Koutsantonis MP
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

The Malinauskas Labor Government is embarking on almost $1 billion worth of crucial infrastructure upgrade projects across Adelaide designed to support and complement the revitalised River Torrens to Darlington Project.

The 13 projects – collectively valued at a total of $850 million as part of the broader $15.4 billion North South Corridor completion, and forecast to support 300 jobs a year during construction – are essential to the proper functioning of the motorway and wider road network both during and after construction of the project.

This pipeline of projects is similar in scope and budget to some of the biggest sections recently completed on the North-South Corridor and represents an extraordinary opportunity for South Australian workers and businesses.

For context, this is a budget comparable to projects such as the Northern Connector Project, Darlington Upgrade Project, Torrens Road to River Torrens Project and South Road Superway Project - and significantly more than the Regency to Pym Project and Darlington Upgrade Project.

These required new upgrades will bolster the State Government’s commitment to having 20 per cent of all labour hours completed by apprentices, trainees, Aboriginal workers and long-term unemployed, providing the opportunity not just to find a short-term job, but to build a long-term career.

South Australian workers will also deliver 90 per cent of all labour hours across these projects.

Construction work will include the widening and realigning of roads and the creation of new intersections.

The first project to be undertaken – the building of a new road linking Selgar Avenue, Clovelly Park, to the all-important Tonsley precinct – is situated in the heart of the River Torrens to Darlington Project’s initial work area and is expected to start in the first quarter of 2023.

Other essential network and amenity upgrades include:

  • Richmond Road – widening Richmond Road between South Road and Railway Terrace, including an upgrade of the Railway Terrace intersection;
  • James Congdon Drive – introducing two right-turn lanes from James Congdon Drive citybound onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive;
  • Tram overpass – modifying the Glenelg tram overpass at South Road by increasing spans, constructing new footings and creating usable community space underneath;
  • Edward Street and Ackland Street signalised intersection upgrade – creating a direct link to Raglan Avenue to remove a notorious “dog leg”, unlock development opportunities and ease congestion including the provision of a signalised right turn phase from Edward Street onto South Road; and
  • Manton Street / Adam Street junction upgrade – adding an additional left-turn eastbound lane from Manton Street onto Adam Street into the CBD.

The full list of 13 additional network and amenity upgrades is on the project website: www.dit.sa.gov.au/T2D

As announced yesterday, following a comprehensive State Government review, the 10.5km River Torrens to Darlington Project now incorporates major design changes including the removal of large elevated roadways and the addition of new entry and exit ramps to improve safety, connectivity and visual amenity for local communities.

Once finished, it will complete 78 kilometres of non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, and allow motorists to avoid 21 existing sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington.

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis

The River Torrens to Darlington Project is the biggest infrastructure initiative in South Australian history, and the design changes we’ve announced will deliver the best all-round solution for motorists and local communities.

It’s important to note, however, that this project is about much more than constructing a new motorway – we need to consider the implications for the entire Adelaide road network.

This isn’t just about a North to South motorway – it’s about the East to West connections across it, and how to synchronise the whole grid to best service the local area and beyond.

It’s no good investing billions of dollars into an asset that cannot operate at the highest level because nearby elements of the wider road network have not been improved in a complementary way.

The State Government is therefore cracking on with these essential works across Adelaide – valued at a total of $850 million – to support the North-South project and allow it to achieve its potential.

These additional upgrades will make sure that the new motorway and the broader Adelaide road network function effectively – both during construction and on completion. So we are getting on with the job of making sure the road network is best placed to function effectively while major construction works are underway.

When considered as a group, the $850 million value of these 13 initiatives is on the same scale as some of the biggest road projects that have been delivered in recent times and will usher in a pipeline of work for South Australian businesses and workers ahead of major tunnelling works.

As is the case with the overall River Torrens to Darlington project, the Malinauskas Government wants local companies to have every opportunity to win work on the 13 upgrade projects – and for local workers who need employment to find it – and take advantage of the remarkable opportunity this represents.