South Australia's North-South Corridor is a step closer to being completed as more pre-construction works get underway on the Southern Tunnel section of the project.
This next round of early works is being carried out by Adelaide-based company, Aurecon, and scope of works include critical ground investigations between Darlington and Anzac Highway. These ground investigations will help determine the final design for the Southern Tunnel.
“The North-South Corridor project will transform the 10.5-kilometre stretch between River Torrens and Darlington, reducing travel times by up to 24 minutes, improving safety and creating up to 4,000 jobs.
“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,” Premier Steven Marshall said.
The South Australian Government will keep residents and businesses in the surrounding areas of the project informed regarding works by increasing the number of community engagement. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) will “doorknock” residents and businesses starting this week to keep them updated as the project progresses towards construction.
To date, approximately 200 drilling sites with more than 5,000 tests have been conducted along the corridor as part of earlier ground investigations and engineering survey works. These early works along with early planning and design works have created more than 200 jobs.
The next round of early works is anticipated to create over 40 jobs.
“These investigation works are a critical element in this massive project – the information gathered will inform the final design and ensure we deliver a world-class piece of congestion-busting infrastructure.
“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,” Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said.
Minister Wingard added that this section of the North-South Corridor is the most complex to deliver due to several factors such as location, ground conditions, unique heritage assets and social character.
“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,” Minister Wingard said.
The $5.4 billion Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments and this multi-billion-dollar development will complete the 78-kilometre non-stop, free-flowing motorway that connects Gawler – north of the city –with Old Noarlunga in the south.
The hybrid+ option has been chosen as the preferred delivery for the T2D Project. This option will combine tunnels, lowered and ground-level motorways, and overpasses / underpasses at key intersections to provide the best outcome.
Once completed, motorists will be able to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between River Torrens and Darlington, reducing travel times by up to 24 minutes.
The T2D Project is due for completion in 2030.
Source: Premier of South Australia – Media Releases; Government of South Australia – Department for Infrastructure and Transport (1, 2)