The SA government is investing close to $3 billion to fix 4,800km of roads, aiming to give locals a smoother and safer journey.
The 2021-22 State Budget allocated around $790 million for regional road projects, including funding for the Augusta Highway Duplication, the Truro Bypass and various road upgrades on Kangaroo Island.
This is on top of the 2020-21 State Budget, which allocated around $908 million for infrastructure upgrades including roads, bridges and marine works, and the $1.1 billion in the 2019-20 State Budget for regional infrastructure – taking the total to $2.8 billion over the forward estimates.
Regional infrastructure projects featured prominently in the 2020-21 State Budget include:
- Augusta Highway Duplication – Stage 2 ($180 million)
- Truro Bypass ($202 million)
- Road Safety Package Extension ($105 million)
- Kangaroo Island Road Upgrades ($40 million)
- Old Murray Bridge Refurbishment ($36 million
- Road safety package ($210 million)
- Fleurieu Connections Improvements Package ($185 million)
- Road infrastructure / shovel ready projects ($144.5 million)
- Hahndorf Traffic Improvements ($250 million)
- Strzelecki Track sealing ($135 million)
- Port Bonython Jetty upgrade ($37 million)
- South Eastern Freeway pavement upgrade ($35 million)
The 2021-22 State Budget will deliver around 550km of road related upgrades, in addition to the around 4,300km in the previous two State Budgets.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Corey Wingard ,said, “Regions form the backbone of our economy and contribute around $28 billion into South Australia’s coffers every year.
“We’re investing record amounts in our regions to fix country roads, help save lives and improve business productivity.”
Mr Winegard said that infrastructure investment like the Hahndorf Traffic Improvements Project make a huge difference to the community.
“The main street through Hahndorf carries around 11,000 vehicles per day and approximately 600 commercial vehicles while the volume of traffic is increasing by around two per cent annually.”
Another project underway is the 472km Strzelecki Track, one of the most heavily used unsealed roads in the northern region and a vital freight link between South Australia and Queensland.
Mr Winegard said, “We’ve heard from industry how dangerous and frustrating it can be for truck drivers using the Strzelecki Track and it’s fantastic to be delivering these much needed and long-awaited works.”
