[COM] M2 Northern Connector | 15.5km | $867m

[Prince George]

Is there any update on the Northern Connector?

years away but the design and costing is ongoing, word around the camp fire is that it will have to be partially privately funded - PPP

probably wont be a toll road though

What model other than tolling is there for a PPP road project?

[muzzamo]

A shadow toll?

[Norman]

What model other than tolling is there for a PPP road project?

I think that's when the government pays the road off over time.

[AG]

What model other than tolling is there for a PPP road project?

I think that's when the government pays the road off over time.

Instead of receiving revenues from tolls, the consortium of private sector firms could receive its revenues from fixed guaranteed payments by the government over time in return for constructing the infrastructure as well as the maintenance upkeep or transferring ownership of other assets. There are a lot of ways that a PPP can be structured.

[drsmith]

If ownership of other assets such as the Crafers Highway/SE Freeway, Northern Expressway and the Southern Expressway (cough) were sold into private ownership then this is where tolls would first appear.

[Norman]

If ownership of other assets such as the Crafers Highway/SE Freeway, Northern Expressway and the Southern Expressway (cough) were sold into private ownership then this is where tolls would first appear.

Don't the Feds own the Northern and South Eastern freeways/expressways anyway?

[muzzamo]

If ownership of other assets such as the Crafers Highway/SE Freeway, Northern Expressway and the Southern Expressway (cough) were sold into private ownership then this is where tolls would first appear.

It wouldn't be my accident though, if tolls were to appear it would be because the government wanted them to.

Personally I'm all for tolls. If you want to drive your 1-5 ton pieces of metal on some of the most expensive infrastructure imaginable and during peak periods (eg inner city tunnels) then you should contribute towards its cost.

[raulduke]

If ownership of other assets such as the Crafers Highway/SE Freeway, Northern Expressway and the Southern Expressway (cough) were sold into private ownership then this is where tolls would first appear.

lol - you would have to be a nimrod to pay to drive on the southern expressway

[Splashmo]

lol - you would have to be a nimrod to pay to drive on the southern expressway

My experience with the Southern Expressway is that it's at least twice as fast as taking Main South Road, so yes, I would pay if I lived that way.

[drsmith]

Don't the Feds own the Northern and South Eastern freeways/expressways anyway?

In terms of selling road infrastructure in return for a private equity capital component for the Northern connector, the cupboard is pretty bare if the above can't be sold.

The Northern Expressway is mostly federally funded. I would guess that the Northern Connector would attract funds from both state and federal governments unless it was fully privately funded which is unlikely.

On another front, how do you get your video clips as smooth as you do ?
I gave it a go with the opening of the New Perth-Bunbury Highway on Sunday but it's as jerky as hell.

[rhino]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Northern Connector federally funded, as it is part of the interstate transport network and will be a key component of the freight task of the future, especially with the railway running down the middle of it.

[Paddy-4-progress]

Punishment466, where might I be able to get my hands on a Northern Connector booklet like you have displayed on your first post?

[Paddy-4-progress]

Also, I'd just like to put my view out there about a certain something....

Note the new Northern Expressway that is skims just past Edinburgh RAAF base?

Well, what I'd like to know is why the South Australian government didn’t build the new Adelaide Airport out there.

Here are some points to consider,

- Adelaide's Northern suburbs would most likely grow with the Airport being located out at the Edinburgh.
- The Northern Expressway would ultimately mean that the normal time it would take to travel from Adelaide CBD to Edinburgh would be halved.
- The land at the West Lakes airport could be sold off for housing which could potentially make millions (and those millions could always go to the construction of a new Adelaide Airport, RAAF base and other projects in this state).
- Edinburgh RAAF base could be moved from its current location to a more suitable location (possibly Murray Bridge).
- No longer would Adelaide have height restrictions in its CBD, which would attract developers to build higher skyscrapers.


I know now that the construction of Adelaide Airports new terminal is complete this will not happen but maybe 50-100 years down the track when Adelaide is in high demand of a larger and more high tech airport that this plan could very well be considered.

[Aidan]

1+1 , 1X1 = 1

Uhhhm...

Exactly.

Can't we just say something like "a four lane road" ?

We can. However you can't guarantee that everyone will know exactly what you mean - I'd take it to mean 4 lanes in total, but others may think you mean 4 lanes each way. Whereas if you refer to it as 2+2 lanes, everyone knows what you mean.

[Aidan]

Also, I'd just like to put my view out there about a certain something....
Note the new Northern Expressway that is skims just past Edinburgh RAAF base?

No it doesn't. The alignment originally proposed did, but the alignment eventually selected isn't as close to it.

Well, what I'd like to know is why the South Australian government didn’t build the new Adelaide Airport out there.

Because the existing airport location is much much better. This has been discussed before and there's a thread in the Visions & Suggestions section and if you want to continue this discussion, I suggest moving it there.

Here are some points to consider,
- Adelaide's Northern suburbs would most likely grow with the Airport being located out at the Edinburgh.

...And without it being relocated! But relocating it would leave the Southern suburbs far worse off.

- The Northern Expressway would ultimately mean that the normal time it would take to travel from Adelaide CBD to Edinburgh would be halved.

No it wouldn't, as it doesn't go anywhere near the CBD.

- The land at the West Lakes airport could be sold off for housing which could potentially make millions (and those millions could always go to the construction of a new Adelaide Airport, RAAF base and other projects in this state).

It would make billions, but the necessary relocations would cost even more - it would end up leaving us worse off.

- Edinburgh RAAF base could be moved from its current location to a more suitable location (possibly Murray Bridge).

What location could be better than by where the defence technology companies are located?

- No longer would Adelaide have height restrictions in its CBD, which would attract developers to build higher skyscrapers.

But without the airport in such a convenient location, the CBD would be less attractive to businesses, so there would be less incentive to build skyscrapers.

I know now that the construction of Adelaide Airports new terminal is complete this will not happen but maybe 50-100 years down the track when Adelaide is in high demand of a larger and more high tech airport that this plan could very well be considered.

I doubt we'll ever need an airport larger and more high tech than the existing site could accommodate. But if we do, the best place to move it would be 5km or more WSW of its current site.