Works have started or will soon begin on more than 150 kilometres of South Australian roads under the State Government’s $165 million Budget stimulus package.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said in a statement that regional areas would benefit most from the works, which will boost productivity and improve safety, while supporting hundreds of jobs.
The 2015/16 State Budget stimulus package includes:
- An additional $70 million to improve critical road infrastructure.
- An additional $40 million to improve the safety of roads.
- $55 million for a new 2.8-kilometre road in Gawler East.
“The additional funding for critical road maintenance and road safety works will create more than 300 jobs by delivering more than 185 projects across the state,” he said.
“Together with the Gawler East Link project more than 400 jobs are being supported over the four years of the stimulus package.
Projects already completed include rehabilitation and resurfacing works at:
- Happy Valley Drive – almost 1 kilometre from Manning Road to Windebanks Road.
- Port Wakefield Road – almost 1.5 kilometre near Balaklava.
Shoulder sealing along about 7 kilometres of the Balaklava Road between Balaklava and Bowman has also been completed and works are underway to rehabilitate almost 2 kilometres of the Waterloo Corner Road between Whites Road and Lawrie Street. “Roads are the arteries of our economy, which is why we are embarking on a targeted approach to rehabilitate key roads to maximise economic and safety benefits for communities across the State,” Mr. Mullighan said.
Mr. Mullighan said over the next four years the road stimulus package would provide for more than 185 road upgrades and road safety improvements throughout the state.
“The road safety improvements will involve shoulder sealing and audio tactile line-marking on high-speed roads to save lives,” he said.
“Sealing the shoulders of the high-speed roads can make a huge difference in preventing a driver from losing control of their vehicle when it strays off the road.
“Audio tactile line marking is another effective safety measure which creates noise and vibrations when a motorist veers out of a lane, often because of fatigue or poor visibility.”
Planning and design work for the new $55 million, 2.8-kilometre Gawler East Link Road is also underway with construction due to start next financial year.