South Australia to receive $1.8 billion in Federal Budget for roads and rail, including $1.4 billion for South Rd upgrade

SOUTH Australia will be handed a massive $1.8 billion cash injection for key road and rail projects across the state in tomorrow’s Federal Budget, with much of it for the South Rd upgrade.

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• Green light for next part of North-South corridor
• Torrens to Torrens ahead of schedule, under budget
• New bridge over South Rd for Torrens to Torrens project

SOUTH Australia will be handed a massive $1.8 billion cash injection for key road and rail projects across the state in tomorrow’s Federal Budget.

Most of the funding will be dedicated to finishing key parts of the South Rd upgrade in a bid to meet the Coalition’s “done in a decade” promise.

In addition, the on-again off-again Gawler rail line electrification will finally go ahead.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said his third Budget would ensure all Australians — particularly low and middle-income families — felt the benefits of the growing economy.

The Budget includes $24.5 billion in funding for new major transport projects and initiatives across the country, forming part of the Government’s $75 billion transport infrastructure investment over the next decade.

The Advertiser understands there will be further infrastructure announcements for SA in coming weeks, but they were not ready to be signed off for the Budget given the recent election of the SA Liberals.

This will mark a massive reversal from last year’s post-Budget barney when SA’s then Labor government claimed the state was “dudded” by a lack of new spending.

Mr Morrison labelled the non-stop north-south corridor — which will get a $1.4 billion boost as part of the Government’s 10-year plan — “real backbone infrastructure” that would support strong growth in SA.

The cash includes $177 million for the Regency Rd to Pym St upgrade, which The Advertiser revealed last week.

“Increasing our investment in infrastructure has been a strong theme of this Government’s budgets,” Mr Morrison said.

“We’re really focused on things that will make our cities more liveable. We have to make our cities ... efficient.”

The stretch of South Rd between Anzac Hwy and Torrens Rd would likely be the next to get the green light, but the State Government still needs to come up with a detailed business case approved by Infrastructure Australia before the money flows. Mr Morrison has also signed off on $160 million to duplicate Port Augusta’s Joy Baluch Bridge, which would help make the national freight network more efficient.

An artist impression of the Darlington Upgrade Project, looking south towards the Southern Expressway. The first bridge is Sturt Road.

The upgrade, which would also address pedestrian safety concerns since a separate bridge closed last year, is expected to support more than 250 jobs and take two years to build.

The Gawler rail line electrification’s first stage (Adelaide to Salisbury) began this year after the State Government decided to fund the project.

A $220 million commitment from the Federal Government in tomorrow’s Budget ensures the Salisbury to Gawler section will also be upgraded.

The project had been at the centre of a finger-pointing battle between Adelaide and Canberra since 2008.

Artist impression of proposed overpass on the corner of Regency and South roads.

Cities Minister Paul Fletcher said the Turnbull Government was now able to work closely with the SA Government to deliver the vital infrastructure.

“The Marshall Government is bringing a new, businesslike approach to planning for the state’s infrastructure needs,” he said. “The Turnbull Government’s record infrastructure investment commitments are designed to underpin that new approach.”

Both the Gawler rail and South Rd upgrades would be funded 50-50 by the Turnbull and SA governments, while 80 per cent of the cash for the bridge would come from the Federal Government.

Artist impression of the lowered South Road Motorway, looking south.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the Government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Investment Pipeline was a major highlight of this year’s Budget.

“It sets out our long-term infrastructure agenda to help communities, agencies and industry plan ahead for the future,” he said.

“We are investing in congestion-busting urban infrastructure, which increases productivity for our city businesses and helps people get home sooner and safer.

“The Government is also delivering projects connecting our regions with our cities and ports, and with the world, boosting local economies and creating local jobs.”