Work is being undertaken on South Australia’s Sturt Highway as part of an ongoing program of targeted upgrades to improve safety and allow access for heavy vehicles.
Construction includes bridge widening and strengthening, overtaking lanes, shoulder sealing and junction upgrades at the Sturt Hwy/Old Sturt Highway junctions, with funding allocated out to 2018-19.
Further upgrades to the Sturt Highway are planned under the National Highway Upgrade Programme, funded by the Australian and State Governments. These upgrades will address constraints for Level 3A (for example B-triples) vehicle access along the Sturt Highway.
Recently completed upgrades have resulted in approval for use by heavy vehicles by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure on the following routes:
- From Sturt Hwy at Gawler to Victorian border – approved for PBS Level 2B vehicles as a result of an ongoing program of road upgrades
- Access into Mount Barker industrial areas – approved for B-double and PBS L2A vehicles, as a result of the new Mount Barker freeway interchange
Opening up the Sturt Highway to PBS Level 2B vehicle was possible due to an ongoing program of targeted upgrades.
The approved PBS level 2B Restricted Access Vehicle Network extension commences at the intersection of Sturt and Horrocks Highways near Gawler, travels along the Sturt Highway to Kingston-On-Murray, then via Kingston Road, Bookpurnong Terrace Loxton, Bookpurnong Road and Stanitzki Road, re-joining Sturt Highway west of Yamba and on to the Victorian border.
The new Mount Barker interchange at Bald Hills Road was completed in 2016 to improve access, safety, and travel times for thousands of people in this rapidly developing region of South Australia.
It was also designed and constructed to be suitable for heavy vehicles up to and including 26m B-doubles and PBS Level 2A vehicles, providing better access for industry in Mount Barker.
Access for 26m B-doubles and PBS Level 2A vehicles to Mount Barker will be via Alexandrina Road, Bald Hills Road and Bald Hills Interchange to the South Eastern Freeway.
