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Hove level crossing upgrade to cost nearly $120m more than expected in second blowout revealed in a day

The Transport Department boss has explained how the Hove level crossing is going to cost nearly $120 million more than expected.

Traffic banked up on Brighton Rd

The budget for a proposed upgrade of the Brighton Road level crossing at Hove is expected to blow out by more than $100 million, the Transport Department boss has revealed.

It is the second government blowout announced on the same day, with the Gawler rail upgrade project also increasing from an estimated $615 million to $715 million.

Facing SA parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday, Transport Department chief executive Tony Braxton-Smith said the Brighton Road level crossing will cost nearly $300 million, up from $171 million that was originally allocated.

Facing questioning from chairman Kyam Maher, Mr Braxton-Smith said that, for the “most feasible” design, the upgrade would cost $290 million.

After being asked when the department will seek the extra funds, Mr Braxton-Smith said: “We have commenced the process with government, but I think the next process is community consultation … and then further design development”.

The level crossing on Brighton Rd, Hove.
The level crossing on Brighton Rd, Hove.
The SA Government will upgrade the level crossing on Brighton Rd at Hove.
The SA Government will upgrade the level crossing on Brighton Rd at Hove.

He told ABC Radio Adelaide on Tuesday morning that the blowout happened because there were no planning studies done beforehand.

“A kind of rule of thumb approach was taken in providing initial costs to government about what the range of costs for this might be … without any detailed technical knowledge to the site,” he said.

“So, unfortunately, because the prior homework wasn’t done, we weren’t able to provide detailed advice and accurate advice as to what the costs would be.”

The upgrade aims to improve travel times for motorists and increase safety for all users, including pedestrians, by removing the road-rail crossing point.

Mr Braxton-Smith said there was no design that could be completed for the original $171 million allocated.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard said the size of the blowout depends on what design the Government proceeds with.

“We’ve looked at road over, road under, rail over and rail under – we’ll go back to the community to consult on that but the early indication is that there’s a cost pressure on that project,” he told reporters.

Despite the cost pressures, Mr Wingard said “we want to see that project happen, absolutely”.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard said the size of the Hove blowout depends on the final design.
Transport Minister Corey Wingard said the size of the Hove blowout depends on the final design.

Opposition spokesman for transport Tom Koutsantonis said, “this is a 70 per cent blowout on the estimated cost. Why has this happened?”

“The Marshall Liberal Government delivered its budget just weeks ago and in the past 24 hours we have seen a $220 million blow out on just two projects.

“There are many unanswered questions, and sadly it is the people who use Brighton Road who are losing out.”

Also on Monday, the State Government announced a major delay in the Gawler line upgrade, meaning passengers must spend months more on substitute buses.

Mr Wingard also said costs for that project will increase by $100 million, but blamed it on the previous Labor government for only having “5 per cent of the design complete”.

gabriel.polychronis@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/hove-level-crossing-upgrade-to-cost-nearly-120m-more-than-expected-in-second-blowout-revealed-in-a-day/news-story/ac0455c56c506dbbd3c0a9b07f8a700a