It's been a big year
It has been a busy year as we get ready for major construction to start in 2025. With a project of this scale and complexity, there’s a lot of planning and work to do and this year has seen us make some significant progress.
We’ve finished a huge amount of early site establishment works, further progressed the design for the new motorway and kicked off a series of upgrades to the broader network around the T2D Project area.
We have also continued to engage with the community members to seek important local insights about the topics you have told us are important to you.
The tender process to select the head contractor is well underway and we are on track to award the contract in the third quarter of 2024. Your feedback to date has been provided to the two shortlisted potential head contractors to ensure community insights are incorporated into their proposals.
The T2D Project is the biggest road project our state has ever undertaken. It's changing the way we live, move and connect.
Watch our latest animation showcasing what's planned and project journey video.
Key project milestones throughout 2023
As the year comes to a close, we wanted to share with you some of the key project highlights.
- 177 contracts awarded
- 91% value of tenders awarded to businesses operating in South Australia
- 786 jobs supported
- $343 million value of tenders awarded
- South Road resurfacing: over 7.4km completed
Project timeline
January to February
Sought your feedback on key project design changes
Following the announcement of the T2D Project design changes in late 2022, we spent a lot of time actively engaging with the community to collect your valuable feedback and address your enquiries regarding the design. We are delighted to report the overwhelmingly positive response the project has received.
Out of the nearly 1,200 survey responses, 68% of participants have expressed a positive or very positive outlook toward the project.
Your support means a lot to us, and we appreciate your involvement in shaping the project’s direction.
April
Progressed process to select head contractor
Our search for a head contractor to construct the T2D Project entered a crucial new phase as we invited potential bidders to lodge a formal Expression of Interest. This followed an initial registration process that started in January and saw 35 eligible firms seek information on the scope and technical requirements of the works.
In August, we then shortlisted two consortia (groups of companies who have decided to work together to tender for the project) who we identified as being best placed to deliver the project. These consortia are now working on detailed bids that will outline how they plan to construct the T2D motorway and maintain it after completion. The head contractor (preferred consortium) is expected to be announced in the third quarter of 2024.
Started the South Road resurfacing upgrade
We kicked off the vital resurfacing works on South Road which will deliver a smoother and safer ride for motorists above where the Southern and Northern Tunnels will be located.
Resurfacing work in 2023
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| Underway |
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May
Shared plans to relocate the Torrensville Bowling Club
We announced plans to relocate the historic Torrensville Bowling Club to a nearby location on the eastern side of South Road and next to the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri by early 2025. This is a big win for the hundreds of members who are keen to see the club remain independent, rather than merging with another club.
June
Started works to improve access at Selgar Avenue, Tonsley
The first intersection and road upgrade being delivered as part of the $850 million package of broader network upgrades kicked off at Selgar Avenue.
The Selgar Avenue link road will enhance access to the rapidly expanding Tonsley Innovation District and to the southbound lanes of South Road. Once finished, it will allow vehicles to make a safe right turn onto South Road from Selgar Avenue via MAB Circuit and Tonsley Boulevard.
Formed new Community Reference Group
The newly formed T2D Community Reference Group (CRG) first met in June. This group provides a forum for residents, community interest groups and individuals to provide input into the planning and design of the project. The Community Reference Group has met four times this year and has already provided great input representing their local networks.
Key topics discussed so far include Local Area Traffic Management plans, active travel opportunities and the Urban Design Strategy.
View notes of discussion from Community Reference Group meetings.
July
Worked to better understand local access needs
You told us that local access for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users is important to you, so we asked you to share your insights so we can better understand local access needs.
Over 100 local community members provided face-to-face feedback. We also received over 140 survey responses and over 600 comments via the interactive map on Social Pinpoint.
Your feedback is being used to help develop Local Area Traffic Management plans in these council areas:
- City of Marion
- City of Unley
- City of Charles Sturt
- City of Mitcham
- City of West Torrens.
We are currently finalising a report that summarises the feedback we received, and it will be shared in early 2024.
Residents helped design the first temporary noise wall
Residents from York Avenue in Clovelly Park helped us design the first temporary noise wall that will be located across the road from their properties in Clovelly Park.
Locals had a opportunity to express their preferences for landscaping, footpath positioning and potential artwork to enhance the appearance of the noise wall.
Construction of the temporary noise wall is underway and will be progressively installed as properties around the future Southern Laydown Area are demolished.
More temporary noise walls will be installed in other areas along the project corridor next year, and we plan to run a similar process for locals to get involved.
September
Shared plans to relocate Warriappendi School
We were thrilled to confirm that Warriappendi School, a renowned school for Aboriginal students, will move to bigger and better premises at Thebarton as part of the State Government’s relocation plan linked to the T2D Project.
From the start of the 2025 school year, Warriappendi School will move from its current location at Marleston to the refurbished former TechInSA building in Thebarton, making way for construction of the T2D motorway.
The under-utilised former TechInSA site on the eastern side of South Road next to the River Torrens / KarrawirraParri has great potential to become more of a community space, and this is a great start. This sit also holds cultural significance for the Kaurna people, the Traditional Custodians.
The school, founded in 1980 and attended by about 80 Aboriginal students from across Greater Adelaide, welcomes the relocation as it has outgrown its current John Street campus.
November
Released the Urban Design Strategy
On major infrastructure projects, good urban design delivers great places for people to live, work and play in, while minimising impacts to surrounding communities.
Last month, we released an Urban Design Strategy that will be used to guide high-quality urban design, landscape and public realm outcomes for all works on the project.
The Urban Design Strategy will help us to:
- connect communities to drive, walk or cycle around their local area and key destinations
- provide green, sustainable infrastructure and plant more trees
- tell stories through art, sculpture, and creative design
- improve local east-west connectivity
- provide new public spaces and opportunities for the community to come together
- acknowledge and celebrate the area’s important Aboriginal history and its connection to the Kaurna people.
Since releasing the Urban Design Strategy, our community engagement team has been gathering your ideas to help inform urban design outcomes for the project and seek feedback on the elements important to you.
This feedback is currently being analysed and will be used to inform the detailed project design.
Read the Urban Design Strategy.
Opened our new Community Information Centre at Hilton
290 South Road, Hilton is a new space for you to visit and learn about the project. The new centre replaces the two temporary centres at Clovelly Park and Brickworks Marketplace.
This improved facility includes:
- a display area for people to view information about the T2D Project, including interactive tabletop screens and wall-mounted video screens
- a workshop area to host community information sessions, and other community and stakeholder meetings
- smaller rooms for face-to-face meetings and private conversations.
The centre will be closed over the festive season from Wednesday 20 December 2023 and reopen on Monday 8 January 2024.
Upgraded Black Forest Primary School pedestrian crossing
The pedestrian actuated crossing outside Black Forest Primary School was upgraded to provide greater protection for people waiting to cross the road.
We know this is particularly important with so many children in the area.
The upgrade included new concrete barriers and steel crash cushions to replace the old pedestrian fence. The pedestrian ramps were also upgraded.
In the longer term, we plan to further improve pedestrian access at Black Forest Primary School, Richmond Primary School and St Bernadettes Primary School. We will work with the schools to finalise these plans as part of the detailed design process.
Looking ahead
2024 promises to be an even bigger year for the T2D Project.
In the third quarter of the year, we’ll reach a major milestone when we appoint an Alliance partner – a consortia of vastly experienced companies who will help construct and maintain the 10.5km motorway.
Early in the year, we’ll be back in the community to engage on the Project Assessment Report, gathering important feedback on the identified potential impacts of the project, proposed mitigations and opportunities.
We’ll also continue to prepare the southern laydown site, from where the first tunnel boring machines will be launched, as well as advancing our important service relocations and geotechnical investigations.
Works to improve the overall road network will ramp up, including more resurfacing works along South Road, as well as the start of important intersection upgrades.
We’ll be able to share more details about these exciting developments in the new year and, as always, will remain
available whenever you have questions or would like more information about the project.
Thanks from the T2D Project team
We’d like to extend our thanks for your continued contribution and patience throughout 2023 as we progress this once-in-a-generation project.
Have a safe holiday season and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the new year.