State Government puts the possibility of tunnels back on the table for North-South corridor

MOTORISTS could travel from near the CBD to the Southern Expressway through a series of South Rd tunnels, in a plan the State Government is investigating. What do you think — VOTE NOW

• May: Regency Rd to Pym St upgrade to go ahead
• May: Budget includes $1.4 billion for north-south corridor
• July: Second South Rd upgrade bridge moves into Darlington

MOTORISTS could travel from near the CBD to the Southern Expressway through a series of South Rd tunnels, in a plan the State Government is investigating.

Graphic of the proposed South Rd tunnels.

Today it starts searching for engineers to check the viability of tunnels for the last two stretches of the North-South Corridor.

The series of tunnels would be built on two 5km sections of South Rd, running from the River Torrens in Hindmarsh to Anzac Highway, Glandore and from Anzac Highway to Tonsley.

It is the first of two major steps this month aimed at securing federal cash for public infrastructure.

The State Government will also next week start a process to identify a company to develop a business case for these two sections.

The business cases will be submitted to Infrastructure Australia by the end of the year. The tunnels are expected to come with a multi-billion dollar price tag.

However, Infrastructure minister Stephan Knoll told The Advertiser it was important all options were considered.

“Previously, tunnelling was not investigated in-depth due to the prohibitive cost,” Mr Knoll said.

“However, recent innovations may now mean this option is feasible to consider.”

The two sections are the final parts of a jigsaw puzzle that, once completed, would create the 78km non-stop North-South Corridor, from Gawler in the north to Old Noarlunga in the south. In May’s Federal Budget, the Government announced a $1.211 billion contribution to the North-South Corridor.

Recent innovations mean a tunnel is now a feasible option to complete the North-South corridor. Pictured is Sydney’s eastern distributor tunnel.

But proposed routes and costs are yet to be determined.

In 2009, the RAA pushed for a $2 billion tunnel from the River Torrens to Anzac Hwy, highlighting how costly a new set of tunnels, in 2018 terms, could cost.

The Infrastructure Minister at the time Patrick Conlon said: “I wouldn’t rule out some tunnel there, but they are incredibly expensive and for 6km, we’d say $2 billion is probably the lower end of an estimate and an illustration also of just how expensive tunnelling is.”

The SA Government is working to plan, prioritise and potentially accelerate funding of the remaining 10km of the corridor’s undeveloped sections.

Business plans for the sections were never submitted by the former government to Infrastructure Australia, the federal body that assesses projects and initiatives for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List.

It is an authoritative list of nationally significant infrastructure investments the country needs over the next 15 years.

There are no SA projects on Infrastructure Australia’s High Priority list and just one, the Eyre Infrastructure Project to increase freight capacity, is listed as a priority project.

Construction of a South Rd underpass in Hindmarsh, as part of the Torrens to Torrens project. Picture: Matt Loxton

“One of the Liberal Government’s infrastructure priorities is completing the remaining sections of the North-South Corridor,” Mr Knoll said.

“Since coming to government we have already secured $1.8 billion of new Federal Government infrastructure funding for key infrastructure projects like the Joy Baluch Bridge, Gawler Line electrification and the Pym Street to Regency section of the North-South Corridor.

“The Marshall Government will also establish Infrastructure SA (ISA), an independent body that will develop South Australia’s first 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy.”

In May, South Rd business owners raised concerns about uncertainty over the upgrade timetable.

Southern Business Connections chairman Greg Garrihy said business owners had been kept out of the loop since the initial announcement of the 10-year strategy.

“Their concerns are still the same, which is mainly not knowing what is happening (regarding) both the changes and timing,” Mr Garrihy said.

Government to dig deep if engineers back bold plan

Analysis — Matt Smith 

BOLD plans to investigate the use of tunnels for the final stages of the ambitious North-South Corridor will be met with differing views.

Cynics will point to cost as one of the major reasons why the project should not go ahead with tunnels. Supporters may argue that tunnels are the only way to truly future-proof the major road network that links the southern suburbs to northern Adelaide.

As a new transport minister, Stephan Knoll has already shown he is not afraid to be brash and throw big ideas into the mix.

Last month, he vowed nothing was off the table as work begins on designing the best public transport system for Greater Adelaide.

That included everything from Segways and EcoCaddies to Uber-style buses, ferries, ride-share bicycles and old-school trams.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll has not been afraid of throwing big ideas into the mix. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

The tunnel idea again proves he is prepared to look the doubters in the face as part of a new way of doing business in SA.

But the hard task will really come if engineers determine the project should proceed with tunnels.

Such a decision will come with a significant price tag, most likely well above the $1.2 billion already promised for the last two sections.

Mr Knoll has made a point of emphasising that the new Liberal Government in South Australia will have a better, and less combative relationship with Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull and his team.

Mr Knoll has also rarely missed an opportunity to blame the former state government for not having business cases ready for big projects. But big visions require those driving them to be constantly looking forward.

Therefore, Mr Knoll should let go of past political battles as he looks to lock in the final jigsaw pieces in the North-South Corridor.