Morphett Road, Anzac Hwy tram overpass plan for Morphettville

A crossing crash hot spot will be replaced with an overpass – but the Glenelg tram will face a many-months-long shutdown during construction. See the details.

A notorious level crossing in Morphettville will be replaced with a tram overpass in a $200m joint-funded project designed to improve road safety.

Plans for the overpass, with funding evenly split between the federal and state governments, were released on Tuesday to construct a tram overpass at the Morphett Rd level crossing near Anzac Hwy.

The overpass aims to cut accidents and reduce commuter delays during peak times for the more than 25,600 motorists who use the road.

There were 106 crashes and 40 injuries recorded at the crossing between 2019 and 2023.

The overpass will be built by the Tram Grade Separation Projects Alliance – including McConnell Dowell, CPB Contractors, Arup, Mott MacDonald and sub-Alliance partner Aurecon and the Transport Department.

During construction, the Glenelg tram line will shut for about six months in the second half of 2025, with the overpass to be built in that time frame on the existing corridor.

An artist impression of the tram overpass at Morphett Road near Anzac Hwy. Picture: Supplied

Traffic at intersection of Morphett Road and Anzac Hwy before tram overpass. Picture: Supplied

Tram services will remain operational between the Entertainment Centre and Botanic Gardens during construction while substitute buses will operate between Glenelg and South Terrace.

Major construction is slated to start late this year.

The works on the Morphett Rd overpass will coincide with a two other projects.

This includes a $400m project to remove the tram level crossing at Marion Rd and Cross Rd, Plympton, as well as a $270m project to upgrade the existing South Rd tram overpass.

The Alliance aims to complete works concurrently to fast-truck construction time while reducing impact on residents and businesses.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said removing the Morphett Rd level crossing would improve safety for all road users.

“The Albanese Government investment in this project will ensure commuters can benefit

from safer, faster trips along these crucial traffic links for years to come,” she said.

The $200m project is part of the wider initiative between the state and federal governments to improve road safety, and follows the $400m equal funding commitment to remove the tram level crossings at Marion and Cross roads in Plympton.

State Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the projects would support “approximately 1115 full-time-equivalent jobs per year over the construction period”.

Mr Koutsantonis also addressed the concern of the tram overpass construction while the CFMEU has entered administration after allegations of ties to the criminal world.

“We’re co-ordinating with South Australia Police to make sure there are no nefarious activities occurring in South Australia,” he said.

“We’re making sure that with all of our contracts there are clear courses that do not allow for preferential treatment to any subcontractor that might have links to organised crime or outlaw motorcycle gangs.

“If there are any findings of corruption or nefarious or in any way illegal, – they will be prosecuted.”

It follows news that Premier Peter Malinauskas has asked police to investigate bikie links to the CFMEU in SA, after secretary John Setka quit amid allegations gangs had infiltrated the organisation interstate.

Mr Setka was secretary of the union’s SA, Victorian and Tasmanian divisions.

Independent administrators are also investigating the construction and general division of the union in Victoria, Queensland and NSW.

The Federal Minister King emphasised that there is no place for criminal behaviour in unions across Australia.

“We have zero tolerance for the sort of behaviour we have seen from the CFMEU, not just in Victoria but across all states,” she said.

“We have taken the strongest possible action we can by placing the CFMEU into administration.”

The proposed tram overpass. Picture: Supplied

The project will reduce travel times for motorists. Picture: Supplied

State MPs Sarah Andrews and Jayne Stinson, whose electorates are within the project area, welcomed what they described as “congestion busters”.

Federal MP Louise Miller-Frost said her Boothby constituents identified congestion issues with her “constantly”, and welcomed the announcement.

This comes after Opposition leader David Speirs and candidate for Boothby Nicolle Flint had distributed ten of thousands of pamphlets across several months petitioning for changes to the Morphett Rd crossing.

Mr Speirs said: “I absolutely welcome this announcement and it’s a credit to the local work of Stephen (Patterson) and Nicolle (Flint) in particular, that this project will be delivered for our local community.”