Calls for a decision on tunnels for South Road to be put in the fast lane

The State Government is being urged to decide whether or not to tunnel along South Road for the final stages of the North-South corridor. And quickly.

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Traders facing a potential wrecking ball along South Road are calling for a decision to be made on their futures.

A decision on the best way forward for the most expensive and difficult stretch of the North-South corridor is expected within months.

But nervousness about the future has prompted businesses to establish a community group to lobby the Government for a swift decision.

The three solutions being examined by the State Government include one super tunnel, or a hybrid option of two tunnels that would mean traffic returning to the surface between Anzac Hwy and Edward St in Melrose Park

A tunnel-free design is also being examined, which would be similar to the Torrens to Torrens build.

Hilton Hotel managing director James Franzon, one of the group’s organisers, told The Advertiser “everyone who is part of the group would like to see a tunnel” underneath the area that stretches from Thebarton to Darlington along South Rd.

“Residents have concerns about segregation and businesses’ main concern is about disruption and uncertainty about their future,” Mr Franzon said. “We are hoping to influence the decision for a long, underground tunnel.

“People are worried about the economic contribution the businesses have on the community. We have 50 workers potentially one day they could be out of a job. And if we were compulsorily acquired we cannot guarantee we would invest in South Australia.”

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll again hinted that tunnels could be the preferred option for the State Government but did not provide a time frame for when it would be announced.

“The Marshall Liberal Government put tunnels back on the agenda after they were put in the too-hard basket by the former Labor administration,” Mr Knoll said.

“The final 10.5km stretch of the North-South Corridor will be the biggest infrastructure project in South Australia’s history.

“The Marshall Government put three options on the table, two of which involving tunnelling as part of the solution and we have already secured $5.4 billion towards this project.”

Sherwood Motors salesman Paul Leraye told The Advertiser the State Government has made the issue worse by failing to provide certainty.

“The biggest driver of fear is fear itself,” he said. Mr Leraye, who has been selling cars in the area for 40 years, fears for the worst.

“Whatever they do they will destroy the businesses along the road here,” he said.

Paul Leraye at Sherwood Motors is unhappy about uncertainty on the North South roadworks. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Opposition infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said with “no public line of sight into the minister’s investigation” into the viability of tunnelling the North South corridor, businesses and residents need some certainty and clarity urgently”.

“South Australians deserve to know how much the remaining sections of the North-South corridor will cost, will iconic heritage buildings be saved, is tunnelling an affordable and realistic option and what is the time line on construction?

“No one can invest with certainty while this delay and secrecy hangs over the remaining sections of the corridor.”

In July, the Sunday Mail revealed iconic heritage buildings, including the Thebarton Theatre, were among the 1000 properties that could be bulldozed to complete the North-South corridor.