Outgoing Defence Minister Christopher Pyne wants bridges to link shipbuilding headquarters with northern suburbs

Adelaide’s northern suburbs would be linked to the Lefevre Peninsula, home of the Osborne Naval Shipyard, via two bridges under a plan by outgoing Defence Minister Christopher Pyne.

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Adelaide’s northern suburbs would be linked to the Lefevre Peninsula, home of the Osborne Naval Shipyard, via two bridges under a plan by the Federal Government’s outgoing Defence Minister Christopher Pyne.

Mr Pyne’s push for infrastructure funds comes after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten pledged $1.2 billion in road funding in key marginal seats.

In a bid to slash travel times for local workers and prepare for an influx of additional vehicles, Mr Pyne has suggested the construction of a bridge from St Kilda to Torrens Island and another from Torrens Island to the Lefevre Peninsula.

The State Government has confirmed that it is undergoing a review into traffic issues on Lefevre Peninsula.

The State Opposition and the RAA have warned the project should not come at the expense of other vital road infrastructure projects in South Australia.

But proposed construction details of the bridges remain vague. Mr Pyne has stressed South Australia’s shipbuilding enterprise will be a big driver of change for the city.

Christopher Pyne wants two bridges to link St Kilda with Torrens Island and the shipbuilding sites at Osborne.

“Price Waterhouse Coopers forecasts 8000 jobs will be created in South Australia as a result of our continuous shipbuilding program with an extra 4000 workers in the next decade at Osborne Naval Shipyard,” Mr Pyne said.

“If you go to the Osborne Naval Shipyard at shift change, you will witness what has been informally dubbed ‘the Clipsal’, as hundreds of workers leave at the same time, on the same road.

“Victoria Rd is currently the only road to access the Osborne Naval Shipyard and businesses on the Lefevre Peninsula.

“It will need to accommodate thousands of additional cars each day as the future naval shipyard builds the Attack-class submarines, and the Hunter-class frigates, ramp up.”

Mr Pyne said a bridge to link Adelaide’s northern suburbs would take pressure off Victoria Rd.

A spokesman for Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll told The Advertiser the State Government will undertake a Lefevre Peninsula planning study to ascertain the infrastructure needs associated with the expected growth of activity in the area from the shipbuilding yards.

Defence Minister Christopher Pyne at the Osborne Naval Shipyard.

“We recognise Osborne is a critical hub and as the workforce ramps up we will need to ensure there is adequate access to the area,” the spokesman said.

State Opposition infrastructure spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said: “We would like to see the feasibility, we would like know whether a 5km bridge over the Barker Inlet would need to be an opening bridge.

“We would like to know about the costs and the volumes of traffic they are expecting. It seems like a very expensive project that not many people have ever considered.”

Mr Koutsantonis questioned the timing of the announcement and raised concerns the Coalition may shift some of its focus from the North-South Corridor to his new project.

RAA senior road safety manager Charles Mountain said the project was worthy of consideration due to the expected increase in traffic in the future.

“It is something that should be looked at,” Mr Mountain said.

“(However) we would not want to see this project channel away funding from other projects particularly those in regional South Australia.”

Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge said the shipyards would be providing jobs for residents from her municipality for years to come.

“It sounds like a great idea,” Ms Aldridge said.

“We would hope a lot of our residents will be working in the shipyards It is something we would love to start discussing.”

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan on Friday said traffic was currently stable.

“At the moment there is not a massive need for it but we do anticipate the traffic to increase to the shipbuilding site,” she said.