Sensational-Adelaide.com

Funding stripped from five major road projects across SA, funds redirected to the North-South Corridor blowout
Five major road projects in the Adelaide Hills and regions have lost all federal funding after a scathing review found some were undeliverable or had stalled.

Clare Armstrong
National Political Editor
@ByClare
2 min read
November 16, 2023 - 10:44AM

Five major road projects across South Australia have been scrapped by the federal government as it attempts to rein in a massive cost blowout in the nation’s infrastructure pipeline.

Federal funding has been stripped from:

■ The Hahndorf township improvements and access upgrade;
■ The Main South Rd upgrade between Myponga and Cape Jervis;
■ The Old Belair Rd upgrade at Mitcham;
■ The Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Tiers Rd, Nairne intersection upgrade;
■ The Truro bypass project.

The Albanese government assessed these projects did not demonstrate “merit”, lacked “strategic rationale” and did not meet Labor’s investment priorities.

The funds saved from these axed projects will be redirected to other projects in SA, including $2.72bn for the north-south corridor from Torrens to Darlington.

A further eight Princes Highway projects across the state have been grouped together into a new “road corridor” with a lump federal funding pool of $361m.

These projects include the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta duplication works, the Augusta Hwy duplication second stage, and the addition of rest areas, pavement works, overtaking lanes, intersection improvements and safety and signage improvements on the Princes Hwy.

Due to cost blowouts on these projects, the SA government will have to prioritise what it wants to do first – and when the pool of federal funding runs out, the state will have to go back and ask the federal government for more money to finish the builds.

The decisions to cut and slow the construction timelines followed a 90-day review of the Infrastructure Investment Program, which Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said was “undeliverable”.

“As part of responding to the findings of the review, the government has made necessary decisions to no longer provide funding at this time to some projects,” she said.

“This includes projects that were not realistically going to be delivered with the funding available, have made little to no progress over a significant amount of time, and projects that do not align with Commonwealth or state and territory priorities.”

Ms King said from now on the government’s investment in infrastructure would focus on “productivity, sustainability and liveability”.

Ms King said the creation of road corridors would better prioritise construction of projects.

“Many projects located along strategic national freight routes are now grouped into corridors,” she said.

“This approach will allow states and territories to more flexibly manage project delivery schedules according to their priorities.”

EBG wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 16, 2023 11:45 am

What about the tram over pass at Marion and Cross Rd South Plympton?

A-Town wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:20 pm

EBG wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 16, 2023 11:45 am

What about the tram over pass at Marion and Cross Rd South Plympton?

This will proceed, as will the Majors Rd interchange by the looks.

Interestingly there's no mention of any cuts to the SDB/Marion Rd intersection which a previous article said will lose funding, and the Grange-Holbrooks-East Ave Dog Leg which another poster said won't proceed.

[Shuz] wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 16, 2023 5:34 pm

So does that mean the NS Motorway is now costing an additional $2.7bn?

If that's the case, one wonders if $18bn is really worth the cost. Originally slated at $9bn, then $12.5bn, then $15bn... it's becoming farcical.

mawsonguy wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:47 pm

I'm a bit surprised that the Truro By-Pass got the axe given that it's a major freight route and goes some way to dealing with issues related to accommodation hill..

Eurostar wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:24 am

Is using Murray Bridge as a shipping port, using the Murray River as a shipping canal (is it deep enough) and maybe a rail freight terminal in the vicinity of the wharf area

Could double stack freight trains run east of Murray Bridge without obstacles? And go around the Lofty Ranges from Murray Bridge to the north via Truro etc?

[Shuz] wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 16, 2023 5:34 pm

So does that mean the NS Motorway is now costing an additional $2.7bn?

If that's the case, one wonders if $18bn is really worth the cost. Originally slated at $9bn, then $12.5bn, then $15bn... it's becoming farcical.