South Australia undergoes $1.5B infrastructure blitz
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South Australia is experiencing a massive infrastructure blitz as 90 individual road and rail upgrade projects are currently underway.
The upgrade projects are said to be worth more than $1.5 billion and will benefit current and future generations of South Australians. The projects will see to the creation of new roads, intersections, bridges and a modernised train line.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the current upgrades will support more than 3,000 jobs.
The infrastructure blitz will also deliver more than 1,480 kilometres of road and rail upgrades.
‘Under the Australian Government’s $110 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, we are delivering projects right across metropolitan and regional South Australia,’ Deputy Prime Minister McCormack said.
‘Our investments are targeted at improving road safety, increasing traffic network efficiency, reducing travel times and enhancing public transport.’
South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said the benefits of the infrastructure blitz will be felt very soon with around half of the projects expected to be completed or opened to traffic in the next few months.
It is expected that the infrastructure blitz will cause unavoidable short-term disruption like traffic delays and temporary rail closures due to the 127 active work sites.
‘Our record $16.7 billion commitment to improve infrastructure is delivering more road upgrades across the state than ever before,’ Minister Wingard said.
‘We know this work is causing disruptions for many road and rail users, but we will soon start enjoying the benefits, and the end result will be world-class infrastructure that will benefit generations of South Australians to come.’
The South Australian Government continues to address its $750 million backlog of road maintenance requirements, creating more jobs and making roads smoother and safer across the state.
‘We’ve recently commenced works on the Portrush and Magill Road Intersection Upgrade and Ovingham Level Crossing Removal, which together are worth $329 million and are supporting
183 jobs throughout construction,’ Minister Wingard said.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the Australian Government is committed to working closely with the South Australian Government to deliver critical infrastructure projects that will help commuters get home sooner and safer.
‘The Main North, Kings and McIntyre Roads Intersection Upgrade, which is anticipated to be completed in October 2021, will help ease congestion at one of the busiest intersections in Adelaide’s northern suburbs,’ Minister Fletcher said.
The $560 million Gawler Rail Electrification Project is also on track with the major works expected to be completed in late 2021. This project will result in a better service on Adelaide’s longest and most heavily patronised passenger rail line.
Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.
