SA Election 2018: Labor makes $259 million North Adelaide tram promise

LABOR has doubled-down on tram extensions, promising a $259 million project to return trams to North Adelaide — the party’s second multimillion-dollar tram pledge in two days.

• Labor promises $279 million Norwood tram extension
• Adelaide tram right turn on North Terrace would cost $37m
• New tram routes proposed for Adelaide

LABOR has doubled-down on tram extensions, promising a $259 million project to return trams to North Adelaide — the party’s second multimillion-dollar tram pledge in two days.

The two kilometre extension along King William Rd and O’Connell St would have four new stops: Adelaide Oval, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Archer Street and Piccadilly Cinema.

The tram would run every 10 minutes and be part of an extended free tram zone.

Premier Jay Weatherill said a further, unfunded extension would then take the tram line from North Adelaide to the intersection of Prospect and Grand Junction Roads.

Artist impressions of the tram going down O'Connell Street in North Adelaide.

The announcement comes just one day after a promised $259 million tram extension to Norwood.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the long talked about North Adelaide tram extension was desperately needed.

“What we do know is that we need to find ways where North Adelaide and the many traders along O’Connell Street can further benefit from the wonderful things that are happening at Adelaide Oval. The tram will do it,” he said.

He said the tram extension would complement the future development of the long dormant Le Cornu site, purchased by the Adelaide City Council late last year.

“It’s terrific because we would best describe this as the renaissance of O’Connell Street,” Mr Haese said.

Like the Parade, Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said O’Connell Street had “plenty of width” to work with so two lanes of car traffic could continue in each direction, as well as a tram line.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall rejected Sunday’s Norwood tram extension due to concerns of local residents, but said his party would “take a look” at the North Adelaide plan.

“We will be making our public transport announcement during this campaign. We think there is much logic to take the tram to at least up to the Adelaide Oval, stopping where it is at the moment is just embarrassing,” he said.

“This government has made a complete and utter mess of their tram policy, always promising before an election and never delivering after an election.”

Mr Mullighan said there were “huge benefits” to the two tram extensions, and said the Government would release the business cases of all route extensions canvassed as part of their future state transport plan.

The pledge exhausts Labor’s $2 billion infrastructure fund, but Mr Weatherill said the Government would make further infrastructure commitments before the March 17 election.

Artist impressions of the tram going down O'Connell Street in North Adelaide.