Construction work begins on $125m ‘Flinders Link’, a 650m extension of old Tonsley line
Construction work has started on a major project to extend the Tonsley rail line to the Flinders university and medical precinct.
- Tonsley rail line extension to Flinders to be complete next year, price tag blows out to $125m
- $1.5 billion Flinders Village planned for Flinders University’s Bedford Park campus
Construction work for the $125m Flinders Link project is under way.
SA Transport Minister Stephan Knoll and federal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint officially turned the first sod of the project – which will extend the current Tonsley rail line to the Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University precincts – on Friday morning.
Flinders University vice-president of corporate services Mark Gregory said the extension would be a “critical piece of infrastructure” that would benefit a new $1.5 billion “village” to be built at the university.
As revealed by The Advertiser last month, the village will include a health research centre, student accommodation, a hotel and shops.
“The train connection will help us attract private capital for the development of the new Flinders Village,” Mr Gregory said.
“The rail link will also complement the university’s activities at the Tonsley Innovation District, support the Flinders health precinct and improve connectivity for businesses and the community.”
The 650m rail extension will include an elevated single track over Sturt Rd, Laffers Triangle and Main South Rd.
A new Flinders station will also be built to replace the existing Tonsley station.
Piling work is being carried out along the length of the extension, starting on the western side of Main South Rd. This work will progressively move towards the northern end of the project site.
A total of 82 piles will support the new rail bridge and a further 65 will be installed for the elevated walkway. These are expected to be in place by the end of August.
Removal of the Tonsley station is almost complete.
This will make way for retaining walls, a ramp and the realignment of the track.
An average of 55 full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be created each year over the life of the project, which is scheduled for completion in mid-2020.
Mr Knoll said the project would benefit the entire community.
“The Marshall Government is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to build a better public transport network that delivers more customer focused services,” he said.
“The Tonsley line extension builds on the $615 million Gawler electrification project currently underway, as well as the $33.5 million on the table to build Park ‘n’ Rides along the O-Bahn.”
Ms Flint described it as “congestion-busting infrastructure”.
In April, it was revealed the cost of the project had blown out from $86 million to $125 million.
The price hike was attributed to design changes in line with “safety, functional and stakeholder requirements”.