The $620 million Darlington Upgrade Project in South Australia will begin excavation of the lowered motorway and bridge construction, marking another milestone for the project
In an Australian first for a civil construction project of its size, consortium Gateway South is building the 180m long bridges on land near where the bridges will be installed.
They will be transported using ‘self-propelled modular transporters’ and manoeuvred into place.
The first bridge section is scheduled to be moved into position in November 2017 connecting the Southern Expressway to what will eventually become the non-stop lowered motorway, once excavated.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Stephen Mullighan, said the Darlington Upgrade is a key part of delivering the 78km non-stop north/south corridor running between Gawler and Old Noarlunga.
“This section of South Road is a notorious and frustrating bottleneck, just ask any motorist who sits in bumper-to-bumper traffic every day,” Mr Mullighan said.
The innovative construction method is substantially reducing traffic impacts for the project, by removing the need for multiple closures of parts of the Southern Expressway and Main South Road.
Traffic on Main South Road between the Southern Expressway and Lincoln Road will be redirected on to newly constructed roads.
“During the switch, traffic will be continually monitored and managed to minimise disruption, but drivers are encouraged to plan ahead or use an alternate route.
The project is also benefiting South Australian businesses and creating local jobs.
“It’s great to see more than 500 people are currently working on site as well as the many hundreds of off-site workers at businesses such as Bowhill Engineering who are also benefiting from this investment,” Mr Mullighan said.
The 3.3km upgrade will deliver a non-stop roadway between the Tonsley Precinct and the Southern Expressway, bypassing five signalised intersections and providing service road links for local traffic.
Eight bridges will be built for the Darlington Upgrade Project, including:
- Tonsley Boulevard
- Over the Sturt River
- Flinders Drive
- Sturt Road
- Mimosa Terrace and Sutton Road
- Three bridge at Ayliffes Road
The project also includes extending the existing Tonsley rail line by 620m, via a rail overpass, terminating at a new station next to the Flinders Medical Centre.
