Construction to start within months on new $124.5 million Port Wakefield Overpass
Work will start within months on a $124.5 million project to fix one of the state’s most lethal intersections, dubbed “crash corner”. TAKE A FLY-THROUGH
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Contractors are setting up site offices for a $124.5 million project to remove one of South Australia’s most dangerous intersections.
The Port Wakefield Overpass includes construction of a two-lane bridge over the Copper Coast Highway and Augusta Highway, 2km north of Port Wakefield.
The intersection, known as “crash corner”, is notorious for fatal accidents and long traffic queues during peak holiday periods.
Original concept plans released for the project were changed after local residents raised concerns about a potential bottleneck at Balaklava Rd.
Former transport minister Stephan Knoll increased the project’s budget by $32.5 million to include:
THE two-lane overpass for traffic travelling southbound from the Copper Coast Highway to Port Wakefield, and for traffic travelling along the Augusta Highway to the Copper Coast Highway.
TWO lanes in each direction through the Port Wakefield township with provisions for safe U-turn movements.
A REALIGNED dual carriageway through the Port Wakefield township.
NEW bridges across the Wakefield River.
A REALIGNED Balaklava Rd intersection with the Port Wakefield Highway.
Announcing the extra spending last November, Mr Knoll said South Australians had been waiting decades for the junction of the Copper Coast, Augusta and Port Wakefield highways to be fixed.
The new spending would “deliver an even bigger and better solution”, he said.
“This dangerous intersection has claimed too many lives and, unfortunately, we’ve had more fatalities at this intersection this year,” Mr Knoll.
“That’s why it is so important we get this project right the first time and have expanded the scope of (it) to address even more safety concerns.”
A private consortium awarded the contract is locating site offices at the former Tucker Time site on the Port Wakefield Highway while the main compound will be north of the BP Truckstop.
The consortium also won the $200 million contract to duplicate the Joy Baluch Bridge at Port Augusta.
A public information session on the Port Wakefield Overpass will be held at the Eagles Sports and Community Centre, Port Wakefield, from 3pm to 7pm on August 13.