Labor Leader Bill Shorten enters Boothby battle with pledge to fix roads

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has weighed into the battle for Boothby by pledging $20 million to fix a notorious southern suburbs intersection if he becomes Australia’s next prime minister.

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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has weighed into the battle for Boothby by pledging $20 million to fix a notorious southern suburbs intersection if he becomes Australia’s next prime minister.

The Springbank, Daws and Goodwood roads intersection, renowned as one of Adelaide’s most dangerous, will get the funding, Mr Shorten told The Advertiser.

“Each day more than 60,000 vehicles travel through these intersections, which link the CBD, southern and eastern suburbs, and between 2012 and 2016 there were 21 crashes resulting in 24 casualties,” Mr Shorten said.

Labor Leader Bill Shorten with candidate Nadia Clancy at the intersection. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

“Currently the intersections are made up of two staggered T-junctions that slow the flow of traffic, creating congestion and causing safety risks for motorists.”

Announcing the pledge with Labor’s candidate for South Australia’s most marginal seat, Nadia Clancy, Mr Shorten said Federal Labor would work with the State Government to deliver the upgrade on a 50:50 funding basis.

Boothby Liberal MP Nicolle Flint and State Liberal MPs Sam Duluk and Carolyn Power are running a “Fix Springbank Intersection campaign” — complete with a website and public petition — saying they want to “ensure this project is delivered as quickly as possible”.

A concept plan of the redesigned intersection of Goodwood, Daws and Springbank roads. Picture: Supplied

The trio told a public meeting in December they were working with state Transport Minister Stephan Knoll to develop a detailed, costed plan.

Ms Flint also said she was lobbying the Federal Transport Minister for funding.

RAA senior road safety manager Charles Mountain supported the funding pledge for the project. “That intersection is inefficient and the proposed project will clearly benefit regular users.”

Mr Mountain said it also would improve accessibility to the revitalised Repat Health Precinct at Daw Park.

The announcement came as The Advertiser yesterday revealed Labor would put $1.2 billion in its first budget for the final and most difficult stage of the North- South Corridor.

The State Government will need to match his commitment dollar for dollar. State Treasurer Rob Lucas said Mr Shorten was posturing.

“Given the incompetence of the former Labor Government we are not in a position yet to spend any money in the next 12 months should Mr Shorten be in the position of winning the Federal Election,” Mr Lucas said, adding a $5 million study was under way to determine the best way to build the final section of the corridor.

“Even if we had the money we would not be in a position to spend the money.”