South Australia’s 2025–26 Budget commits $27.3 billion over four years to infrastructure.
Leading the list is the $15.4 billion North-South Corridor – South Australia’s largest infrastructure undertaking to date.
Construction is underway on sections of the 10.5-kilometre final stage, with extensive tunnelling, road widening, and utility relocations planned. Once complete, the corridor will eliminate 21 sets of traffic lights between Torrensville and Darlington. Government estimates suggest a peak-hour travel saving of up to 40 minutes.
Also prominent is the $3.2 billion New Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
It will add 56 overnight beds to the current total, bringing the capacity to 414. Located adjacent to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the new facility includes an onsite helipad, expanded theatre and emergency capacity, and room for future expansion.
Several new projects make their first budget appearance. These include Stage 1 of the High Productivity Vehicle (HPV) Network upgrade, funded at $656.3 million over ten years.
The corridor – linking the South Eastern Freeway to the Sturt Highway – is intended to accommodate larger freight vehicles. Funded on an 80:20 basis with the Commonwealth, further details on exact alignments, bridge upgrades and corridor design are yet to be released.
The Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal, a $250 million joint commitment, will replace the current at-grade intersection with an overpass along a key east-west link in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
The project aims to ease congestion and support housing growth in the area. Delivery is expected over five years.
Regionally, the Main South Road upgrade between Myponga and Yankalilla will receive $80 million over five years. The notorious stretch will see new overtaking lanes, bridge widening and safety treatments.
Meanwhile, $15 million has been allocated to restore the structurally deteriorated Port Augusta Wharf, including new steel piles, girders, crossheads and decking to support recreational public use.
Public transport sees a modest shift with $12.5 million to transition the Mount Barker Keoride on-demand service to a permanent operation. Six new electric buses and depot upgrades are planned.
Several existing major builds – such as the $330 million Eyre Peninsula Desalination Plant, $350 million South Eastern Freeway Upgrade, and $400 million Marion Road corridor upgrade – remain on track for staged completion by 2029.
