Federal budget to include $200m for nightmare Marion Road bottleneck fix

It was first flagged six years ago, but Tuesday night’s federal budget will include $200m for a long-awaited upgrade to one of Adelaide’s worst road bottlenecks.

A long-awaited fix for one of Adelaide’s worst traffic bottlenecks will be promised in Tuesday night’s federal budget as the Coalition unveils plans to spend more than $450m on new road projects in South Australia.

Almost half of that money will go towards easing congestion through the Marion and Cross roads intersection, eliminating two nightmare tram crossings on the northern border of SA’s most marginal federal electorate – Boothby.

With the $200m investment in the federal government’s last budget before an election is called, the Glenelg tram line crossings on the two roads at Plympton will be removed, with both options of a tram or road overpass on the table.

The federal budget will include $200m fixing one of Adelaide’s worst traffic bottlenecks. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Extra turning lanes and ­better access for cyclists and pedestrians will be added where Marion Rd intersects with Cross Rd and also Anzac Highway.

The state government is expected to invest a further $200m, but it is unclear when the project will start as detailed planning continues.

The solution was first flagged by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull six years ago, on the eve of the 2016 federal election.

At the time, Mr Turnbull appeared with Liberal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint to announce $2m for a planning study for the upgrade.

The study was marred with delays and not completed until late last year.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the section of Marion Rd that crossed the tramline and Cross Rd was “one of the worst bottlenecks in Adelaide”.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the federal government had “heard the concerns of commuters”. Picture: Jane Dempster

“The Morrison government has heard the concerns of ­commuters, the RAA and businesses and is committing $200m to save people time, money and frustrations,” he told The Advertiser.

“We look forward to ­working closely with the state government to ensure the ­effective design and delivery of this project to separate drivers along Marion Rd from the ­disruption of crossing both Cross Rd and the tramline in such close proximity.”

Ms Flint, who is retiring at the next federal election, said it would make life “so much easier and safer” for the local community.

Sipping a beer at The Highway pub, David Ellis, 37, of Camden Park, welcomed the planned upgrades.

“(The trams) cut through Marion Rd, which stops all the traffic, and then it hits Cross Rd and stops all the traffic there,” Mr Ellis said.

Darren, 49, of North Plympton, said a similar solution “worked huge at the South Rd intersection, where they put the tram on top of that and it relieved a lot of traffic”.

Jake, Darren and David Ellis outside the Highway Inn on the corner of Marion Rd and Anzac Hightway. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Tuesday night’s federal budget will also include $120m for a suite of safety upgrades to roads across the Adelaide Hills, including Norton Summit, Lobethal and Onkaparinga Valley roads.

Long Valley, Torrens Valley, Kangarilla, Main and North East roads will also be upgraded with widening, shoulder sealings and new markings.

Traffic management works on the South Eastern Freeway will receive $60m, with the installation of movable barriers in the centre of the motorway.

Another $60m will be invested in protecting the Sturt and Eyre highways from flooding and $16m for freight productivity on Main South Rd.

The federal government’s infrastructure spend in SA will be headlined by the previously announced $2.26bn of extra funding for the 10.5km Torrens to Darlington project.

It will also allocate an extra $20m for an upgrade of the Marion Rd and Sir Donald Bradman Drive intersection.

A total of $2.8bn will be set aside in the budget for new and existing road projects in SA.

“Our investment in these infrastructure projects will support more than 2000 direct and indirect jobs in South Australia,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

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