COM: Northern Expressway | 22km
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 9:39 pm
City-Gawler freeway link
Anna Merola
17jul05
A $300 MILLION freeway – one of South Australia's biggest infrastructure projects – will be built linking Adelaide with Gawler.
Due for completion in 2011, the project will see the Sturt Hwy extended south by 22km from Gawler, creating a wider and more free-flowing link to Port Wakefield Rd, at Waterloo Corner.
A two-year planning study is underway to determine the best route for the four-lane Northern Freeway, with consultation among councils and residents beginning last week.
"As the northern suburbs continue to grow, this freeway link will be vital for motorists and businesses moving freight and will provide direct traffic movement from the Barossa Valley and Riverland through to the Port, cutting about 20 minutes off each trip," acting transport minister Paul Holloway said.
The Federal Government's AusLink program will fund 80 per cent of the freeway over 10 years, with the State Government committing $60 million over three years. The majority – $46.1 million – is allocated in the 2008-2009 financial year.
Gawler mayor Tony Piccolo, also the Labor candidate for Light, welcomed the announcement. "It's been talked about for over 10 years, so we're very pleased that finally it's going ahead," he said.
The two-year planning study will find the best route suited to the needs of the transport industry and daily commuters.
It's already been determined that the freeway will bypass the township of Angle Vale.
Mr Piccolo says the town's estimated 5000 residents have long endured traffic congestion from cars and heavy vehicles, which pass by two primary schools.
"The number of B-double trucks is like a never-ending road train," he said.
"So safety will significantly improve as parents and children will no longer have to deal with heavy trucks and through traffic clogging the Heaslip-Angle Vale Road intersection."
Of the $300 million allocated, it's proposed $190 will go towards extending the Sturt Highway.
The remaining $110 million will be spent on upgrading another 9km of Port Wakefield Rd, between Waterloo Corner and Salisbury Highway, to meet up with Port River Expressway.
"The freeway is expected to take traffic off Main North Rd, enabling motorists to avoid 18 sets of traffic signals," Mr Holloway said.
"This will also improve safety on the local arterial network, particularly Heaslip, Angle Vale and Main North Roads."
When completed in 2011, it's predicted the freeway will carry up to 36,000 vehicles a day.
By 2020, that number could increase to more than 46,000.
A proposed timeline indicated seven phases in which the project will be completed, including land acquisition from private property owners scheduled for 2007.
This is necessary as the freeway will traverse an area where there is currently no transport corridor, Mr Holloway said.
"It's expected that major freight routes and surrounds between the Riverland, Barossa Valley and the eastern seaboard will benefit from the freeway," he said.
The new road is not expected to incorporate Heaslip Rd which will remain open but become a local connector road.
---------------------------------------
Possible Freeway path:
http://photoadelaide.com/JunkPile/Gawle ... elaide.gif
Port Adelaide - Gawler freeway corridor:
http://photoadelaide.com/JunkPile/North ... rridor.gif
Anna Merola
17jul05
A $300 MILLION freeway – one of South Australia's biggest infrastructure projects – will be built linking Adelaide with Gawler.
Due for completion in 2011, the project will see the Sturt Hwy extended south by 22km from Gawler, creating a wider and more free-flowing link to Port Wakefield Rd, at Waterloo Corner.
A two-year planning study is underway to determine the best route for the four-lane Northern Freeway, with consultation among councils and residents beginning last week.
"As the northern suburbs continue to grow, this freeway link will be vital for motorists and businesses moving freight and will provide direct traffic movement from the Barossa Valley and Riverland through to the Port, cutting about 20 minutes off each trip," acting transport minister Paul Holloway said.
The Federal Government's AusLink program will fund 80 per cent of the freeway over 10 years, with the State Government committing $60 million over three years. The majority – $46.1 million – is allocated in the 2008-2009 financial year.
Gawler mayor Tony Piccolo, also the Labor candidate for Light, welcomed the announcement. "It's been talked about for over 10 years, so we're very pleased that finally it's going ahead," he said.
The two-year planning study will find the best route suited to the needs of the transport industry and daily commuters.
It's already been determined that the freeway will bypass the township of Angle Vale.
Mr Piccolo says the town's estimated 5000 residents have long endured traffic congestion from cars and heavy vehicles, which pass by two primary schools.
"The number of B-double trucks is like a never-ending road train," he said.
"So safety will significantly improve as parents and children will no longer have to deal with heavy trucks and through traffic clogging the Heaslip-Angle Vale Road intersection."
Of the $300 million allocated, it's proposed $190 will go towards extending the Sturt Highway.
The remaining $110 million will be spent on upgrading another 9km of Port Wakefield Rd, between Waterloo Corner and Salisbury Highway, to meet up with Port River Expressway.
"The freeway is expected to take traffic off Main North Rd, enabling motorists to avoid 18 sets of traffic signals," Mr Holloway said.
"This will also improve safety on the local arterial network, particularly Heaslip, Angle Vale and Main North Roads."
When completed in 2011, it's predicted the freeway will carry up to 36,000 vehicles a day.
By 2020, that number could increase to more than 46,000.
A proposed timeline indicated seven phases in which the project will be completed, including land acquisition from private property owners scheduled for 2007.
This is necessary as the freeway will traverse an area where there is currently no transport corridor, Mr Holloway said.
"It's expected that major freight routes and surrounds between the Riverland, Barossa Valley and the eastern seaboard will benefit from the freeway," he said.
The new road is not expected to incorporate Heaslip Rd which will remain open but become a local connector road.
---------------------------------------
Possible Freeway path:
http://photoadelaide.com/JunkPile/Gawle ... elaide.gif
Port Adelaide - Gawler freeway corridor:
http://photoadelaide.com/JunkPile/North ... rridor.gif
