Knoll appoints team to investigate going underground to finish non-stop South Rd

COMPANIES helping to build major tunnels in Sydney, the US and India have been enlisted to help decide if Adelaide’s South Rd upgrade puzzle should be solved by digging.

• State Government puts South Rd tunnel back on map
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COMPANIES helping to build major tunnels in Sydney, the US and India have been enlisted to help decide if Adelaide’s South Rd upgrade puzzle should be solved by going underground.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has confirmed the appointment of Price Waterhouse Coopers to develop a business case for the remaining 10.5km of upgrades to Adelaide’s major motorway.

A team led by companies SMEC, WSP and Tunnelling Solutions will study the viability of going below ground, amid fears of major disruption and land purchase costs if a traditional road widening upgrade goes ahead.

The State Budget handed down last month included $5.5 million for the new South Rd design work as the clock ticks down on the Federal Government’s push for a non-stop freeway between Gawler to Old Noarlunga by 2024.

The State Government in May committed to the Regency Rd to Pym St upgrade, which will complete a 47km non-stop free flow roadway between Gawler and the River Torrens.

That still leaves two “bundles”, immediately north and south of Anzac Hwy.

Mr Knoll said he was moving as quickly as possible to slot in the “last piece” of the “North-South corridor puzzle”.

“Investing in our roads reduces traffic congestion and travel times and builds a more productive road network for freight and business,” he said.

SA Minister for Transport Stephan Knoll. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

SMEC is working on the Sydney Metro Northwest project, which is to start construction next year in the first stage of what is to become Australia’s biggest public transport project.

It will include 15km twin tunnels between Bella Vista and Epping.

WSP designed the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement in the US city of Seattle, the largest diameter tunnel in the world.

Opening next year, the 3.2km tunnel will take freeway traffic beneath Seattle’s downtown district.

Tunnelling Solutions assisted with the Chennai Metro Rail Project in India and its directors boast lengthy experience on builds including England’s Channel Tunnel.

A South Rd planning study released by the Federal Government in 2015 estimated a cost of $596 million for land purchases alone before heavy construction could start on upgrading the road from Gallipoli Underpass to Darlington.

A further $375 million was estimated to buy land north of Anzac Hwy so work could start to reach the recently opened Torrens to Torrens upgrade.

The Federal Government has promised $1.2 billion to help finish South Rd.

However, the final cost is expected to be much higher and require state taxpayers to inject more cash.

There are also question marks over when the promised federal money will be released.

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