Works start on $11m project to ease congestion on city ring route

Construction has begun on an $11.3 million upgrade of the inner city ring route to ease congestion and cater for an expected increase in traffic during construction of the Torrens to Torrens project.

Assistant Federal Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Jamie Briggs said the upgrade would reduce delays for more than 70,000 drivers who use the Torrens Road intersection each day and more than 40,000 using Park and Fitzroy terraces.

“The road upgrade will involve constructing three lanes in each direction between Port Road and Prospect Road, with an extra city-bound lane also included on Torrens Road,” Mr Briggs said.

“These works will fix the current traffic congestion along this route and will support the $896 million Torrens to Torrens Project, which will slash travel times for motorists, boost freight efficiency and create hundreds of new local jobs.

“This milestone is another example of the Australian Government’s commitment to funding infrastructure upgrades in South Australia to boost productivity, create jobs and grow the economy.”

South Australian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said that the Park Terrace, Fitzroy Terrace and Torrens Road upgrade would support more local jobs.

“Local South Australian company Bardavcol won the tender to upgrade Park Terrace, Fitzroy Terrace and Torrens Road, supporting around 20 jobs at the business,” Mr Mullighan said.

“It is another example of the Australian and South Australian governments working together to deliver vital road infrastructure and to boost the South Australian economy.”

The tender was conducted in line with the State Government’s Industry Participation Policy, which assists small and medium South Australian businesses win Government construction contracts.

The works should be complete by December, weather permitting. The T2T project is due for completion in late 2018 and will support about 480 jobs a year during construction.

Source: News Release, Government of South Australia, 14 July, 2015

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/images/news_releases/2015/15_07Jul/parkfitzroy.pdf