The construction of the $1.4 million Eudunda heavy vehicle bypass in South Australia is now complete, filling a gap in the state’s 26m B-double trucking network.
The bypass links the Worlds End and Thiele Highways, and is a direct outcome of the 90-day Improving Road Transport for the Agriculture Industry project.
The bypass significantly improves the efficiency of freight movements in the Mid North and Barossa regions, and beyond; especially for grain and livestock industries.
The new link addresses safety and amenity issues raised by the Eudunda community, and removes the need for heavy vehicles to travel through the town centre. It also improves access to the Viterra silo and bunker sites.
The $1.4 million Eudunda bypass works were completed by the Regional Council of Goyder.
The works included:
- A new road link extending Three Chain Road to the Thiele Highway
- A new junction at the Thiele Highway
- A modified junction at Thiele Highway, South Terrace, Viterra silo access
- Minor junction improvements along the route to the Viterra bunker site
The 90-day Improving Road Transport for the Agriculture Industry project is a collaboration between Primary Industries and Regions SA, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and Primary Producers SA.
Through the project, primary producers and transport operators are already estimated to have benefitted by at least $56 million from the reforms.
Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock said the bypass will not only benefit South Australia’s agriculture sector, but also our regions and broader economy.
“It reduces the distance and time spent on the road transporting products and livestock, and should remove many of these larger vehicles from the township,” Mr Brock said.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Leon Bignell, said the Eudunda bypass is a great outcome of the project and will significantly support the state’s grain producers.
South Australia is a net exporter of food and the development of an efficient and effective road transport system – the only means of delivering goods in most regional areas – is vital for economic competitiveness.
Primary Producers SA Chair, Rob Kerin, said the new bypass filled a missing link in the state’s heavy vehicle network.
“It is one more achievement for the road transport project and shows what can happen when private and public sector partner together,” Mr Kerin said.
Viterra General Manager Logistics and Commercial Relations, Jonathon Wilson, said he was pleased to have the works completed in time for the 2017/18 harvest.
“The improved efficiency of grain movements from Robertstown and Eudunda created by the bypass has already been reflected in our export select rates to benefit growers and exporters,” Mr Wilson said.
