The first major part of the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass to get more trucks off the South Eastern Freeway and Cross Road is a step closer with a concept design for the Truro Bypass alignment released for public consultation.
Planning is progressing on a solution to improve road safety, boost freight productivity, get 600 B-Doubles and road trains off Truro’s main street each day while also keeping the route as close as possible to the town for continued tourism and business opportunities.
The indicative alignment, developed as part of the early design phase of the project, diverts the Sturt Highway to just north of the Truro township and across Accommodation Hill.
Community engagement will start in October, with opportunities to provide feedback to help inform the design and share ideas on opportunities to enhance the Truro main street.
The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $202 million towards the design and construction of the Truro Bypass.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the project would play a key role in improving freight productivity along the Sturt Highway, while also creating 365 full-time equivalent jobs per year over the construction period.
“The Sturt Highway is the major road freight corridor connection between South Australia and New South Wales and the demand to cater for larger freight vehicles is only increasing,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Truro Bypass will help boost the efficiency of this vital freight corridor by removing the need to travel through the town’s main street for the approximately 600 B-Doubles and road trains which do so every day.
“The project also complements our joint $87.5 million investment to upgrade the Sturt Highway between Renmark and Gawler to improve access requirements for higher efficiency heavy vehicles, as part of the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative.”
On average, approximately 4,000 vehicles travel through the town of Truro per day, of which 30 per cent are heavy commercial vehicles, including an average of approximately 600 B-Doubles and road trains per day.
South Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said the bypass was an important part of a larger approach to diverting trucks away from the South Eastern Freeway.
“This project will remove the need for these heavy vehicles to negotiate the main street of a town where there are many other vehicle and pedestrian movements, Minister Wingard said.
“Additionally, this option has been identified due to its significant reduction in steep gradients – meaning trucks and commercial vehicles could move along the National Highway safely and efficiently, particularly through the Accommodation Hill section.
“We have also tried to keep the bypass close to the township to ensure locals continue to be able to easily access the township and visitors are encouraged to stop,” he added.
The bypass further supports the development of the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass between Sturt Highway and the South Eastern Freeway, via Murray Bridge and Sedan, to form part of a broader freight network diverting heavy vehicles away from Adelaide and the South Eastern Freeway, which the Minister said the South Australia Government was currently undertaking planning studies for.
The SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport will work with Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin and Mid Murray Council to develop a master plan that explores these opportunities in greater detail.
Construction of the Truro Bypass is expected to commence in early 2023 and be completed by 2025.
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