Final stage of North-South Corridor may not be completed for 15 years, leaked documents reveal
Leaked Cabinet documents show the final stage of the North-South Corridor may not be completed until 2035 – more than a decade behind what was originally planned.
The final stage of the North-South Corridor project may not be completed until 2035, leaked state government documents reveal.
The confidential Cabinet documents, obtained by the Opposition and seen by The Advertiser, show timeframes and costings for a tunnel from Tonsley to near Anzac Highway.
It shows major construction work on the proposed tunnel, which would form Stage 1 of the project, might not start until 2024 and may not be completed until mid-2028.
The papers also reveals work on Stages 2a and 2b, between Anzac Highway and the River Torrens, would not begin until Stage 1 was finished and could take a further two-and-a-half years and four years respectively to complete.
This would mean the project may not be completed for 14.5 years, or more than a decade late.
Labor says the focus on the tunnels option in the documents indicates it is the government’s preferred option.
Tunnels had been favoured by residents along the 10.5km stretch between the River Torrens, near Thebarton, and Darlington because it would save hundreds of properties, including the Thebarton Theatre, from potential demolition.
The other option under consideration is an elevated motorway, similar to the Torrens to Torrens project.
The leaked documents stated the elevated motorway would be $1 billion cheaper than a tunnels option, estimated to cost $9.9 billion.
Opposition transport and infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said the leak showed “that there are people inside Corey Wingard’s department who are seriously concerned about his handling of major projects”.
“Shockingly, these documents reveal this project is not set to be complete until the mid-2030s,” he said.
“It’s important to remember, it was originally promised this project would be complete in 2023.
“Now that these documents have been sensationally leaked, the Marshall Liberal Government needs to come clean with the people of South Australia about its plans for the North-South Corridor and how it will it fund the $3.5 billion shortfall.”
Comment is being sought from Transport and Infrastructure Minister Corey Wingard.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sou ... fc2f49beb3
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I'm not sure what to make of this TBH, if it was as 'relevant' a document as they claim, wouldn't they attack the Government in Parliament about it and then use the press to pile the pressure on?
That said, the Libs aren't doing themselves any favours with answers like this one from last week, what a load of fluff:
http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov. ... D-11-39215