Aurecon will undertake new ground investigations for the Southern Tunnel section of the South Australian Government’s North-South Corridor.
The new round of critical ground investigations between Darlington and Anzac Highway will create more than 40 jobs.
Aurecon is an Adelaide-based company with experience in major infrastructure projects around Australia. Its experience includes the Torrens Road to River Torrens Project, Darlington Upgrade Project and Victor Harbor Road Planning Study.
The ground investigations will help determine the final design of the Southern Tunnel, with the State Government keeping local residents and businesses informed with increased community engagement in the area.
As planning and early works continue, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) will doorknock residents and businesses in the area to keep them up to date of the progress being made.
Earlier ground investigations and engineering survey site works have been completed at approximately 200 drilling sites – with over 5,000 tests along the corridor. This, as well as early planning and design work, has created more than 200 jobs so far.
South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall, said the North-South Corridor is South Australia’s most important infrastructure project.
“The North-South Corridor project will transform the 10.5km stretch between River Torrens and Darlington, reducing travel times by up to 24 minutes, improving safety and creating up to 4,000 jobs,” Premier Marshall said.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is working closely with the Federal Government to deliver this generational piece of infrastructure and I welcome the funding in the Budget.
“We are getting on with delivering the most important infrastructure project in South Australia’s history and these early works are an important step to ensure we get the best possible design.
“Our hybrid solution involving a combination of tunnels and motorways is the best result for all South Australians and will revolutionise the way we travel – creating a 78km non-stop motorway.
“This project forms part of the $16.7 billion investment in infrastructure across the state which is creating more than 19,000 jobs and building what matters for South Australia.”
South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Corey Wingard, said the new investigation works; which will support 42 jobs, are essential to the project and will ensure the design is right for the local conditions.
“These investigation works are a critical element in this massive project – the information gathered will inform the final design and deliver a world-class piece of congestion-busting infrastructure,” Mr Wingard said.
“The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) component of the North-South Corridor will deliver an economic boost for South Australia and the local community during and after construction, increasing freight productivity, reducing travel times and improving safety for road users.
“Due to its location, ground conditions, unique heritage assets and social character, the final section of the corridor is the most complex piece of the project to deliver and features a combination of tunnels and surface-level motorway.
“In the first phase, the team investigated approximately 200 boreholes along the 10.5km corridor. This second phase of investigations will be undertaken through approximately 250 boreholes on the southern section of the project alignment, between Anzac Highway and Darlington Interchange.
“It is important to note that the location of the investigation works are not necessarily where construction will occur – we need to understand the soil conditions along the entire alignment”.
The completion of the project will deliver a 78km non-stop, free-flowing motorway that seamlessly links Gawler, to the north of the city, with Old Noarlunga in the south.
The Federal and South Australian governments have committed $5.4 billion towards delivering the T2D Project.
