The contract to design and construct the Majors Road Interchange Project – jointly funded with $120 million from the Federal and South Australian Governments – has been awarded.
Acciona Construction Australia has been awarded the contract, with the project involving the construction of new on/off-ramps for the Southern Expressway at Majors Road, with each government committing $60 million.
Major construction on the Majors Road Interchange Project is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2023 and final project completion is expected at the end of 2025.
Adelaide southern suburbs environmental group Friends of Glenthorne will also have a new home to support its conservation and re-vegetation activities.
The project team has worked closely with the Friends of Glenthorne, a local volunteer group, to improve environmental outcomes for Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta both during and after the construction of the interchange.
As a result of this collaboration, a new plant nursery and garden area will be funded and built.
The nursery will assist with the project’s vegetation offset requirements and continue to support the Friends of Glenthorne’s conservation and re-vegetation activities into the future.
The nursery will be located in the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) SA’s Majors Road premises, adjacent to the project site facilities, with construction expected to be completed by early 2024.
The nursery will be operated and maintained by Friends of Glenthorne, in collaboration with RDA SA.
The project is expected to support approximately 245 full-time-equivalent jobs per year over the construction period.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said the Federal Government is jointly funding the Majors Road interchange project to ensure smoother and safer traffic flow.
“This project will provide commuters in Adelaide’s southern suburbs with better access to the Southern Expressway, while providing all commuters improved access to Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, the Sam Willoughby International BMX Facility and the Southern Soccer Facility from the Southern Expressway,” Ms King said.
South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Tom Koutsantonis, said that while the current project design of the Majors Road Interchange ensures no impact to significant vegetation and minimal impact to the Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta as a whole, the government is still working to give back to the environment.
“The Friends of Glenthorne do fantastic volunteer work to protect Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, and this plant nursery will empower them to do more great work, while helping the project to offset its environmental impacts,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
“This is a great example of how major infrastructure projects can take a collaborative approach to improve outcomes for local communities and the environment.
“I’d also like to congratulate Acciona Construction Australia for being awarded the contract to design and construct the Majors Road Interchange and look forward to major construction commencing later in 2023.”
Federal Member for Kingston, Amanda Rishworth, said the contract award is the next critical step in delivering this project, which will benefit drivers of the more than 13,000 vehicles who use Majors Road each day, a number that is expected to grow with the easier access to sports facilities and Glenthorne National Park.
“The project will also benefit the 74,000 vehicles using the Southern Expressway between Darlington and the Reynella Interchange each day,” Ms Rishworth said.
“The needs of the environment were placed front and centre in this project with increased support for the Friends of Glenthorne’s conservation and re-vegetation activities, which I hope will attract more people in the local community to get outside and enjoy the benefits of volunteering.”
Federal Member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost, said the Federal Government and the State Government are wasting no time in getting on with this important work.
“Taking traffic off Brighton Road will be of huge benefit to residents in Boothby’s coastal suburbs, and I join with my colleagues in congratulating Acciona for securing the contract to deliver this project,” Ms Miller-Frost said.
State Member for Davenport, Erin Thompson, was pleased to see this project taking shape, especially the careful work going into ensuring the development doesn’t just minimise environmental impact but leaves a lasting and positive conservation legacy.
“I’m thrilled the Friends of Glenthorne will have a new and lasting home as part of this project.”
