Business case for Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass being finalised, would remove only about 10 per cent of trucks from freeway

The case for a massive freight truck loop around Adelaide’s metro area is taking shape, but there are warnings it’s not the freeway fix people expect.

A business case for a border-to-border freight truck bypass around Adelaide is being finalised for evaluation, amid warnings it would remove only about 10 per cent of trucks from the South Eastern Freeway.

SA councils have today voted to unify behind the Burnside Mayor to demand a federally funded bypass around Adelaide, to get interstate freight trucks off the freeway and out of residential streets. A vote at the LGA meeting passed 106 to 2.

Advocates say only about 30 per cent of the freight that comes through Adelaide is bound for SA.

Cr Anne Monceaux said there was “no way” SA could fund the new highway alone, which truckies say must allow B-doubles and triples to drive safely at high speeds.

“It’s a disgrace we’re the only city in Australia where the interstate freight routes goes through a massive part of suburbia,” she said.

“We need to enlist the entire support of the LGA – it’s not just metro councils impacted by this, it’s regions such as Mid Murray, where the route would traverse if it goes ahead.”

The bypass road – likely to cost hundreds of millions – is set to leave the highway at Murray Bridge, head toward Truro and come out behind Gawler.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said a bypass business case was being finalised for independent evaluation amid a “detailed examination” of a High Productivity Vehicle Network access proposal.

One of the possible routes a greater Adelaide freight bypass could take. Picture: Dept of Transport

But he and trucking groups warned it wasn’t the freeway fix locals might hope for.

“It is important that people understand there is no solution that will see all or even most trucks removed from the South Eastern freeway, and such estimates underplay the significant amount of road freight travelling to and from the Adelaide Hills region itself,” he said.

“While the funding required will be determined by the business case, a project of this magnitude would attract a considerable cost, and clearly require a federal partnership.

“While council advocacy is welcome, the planning work required is already underway and that process needs to be completed before funding decisions can be made.”

SA Road Train Association CEO Steve Shearer said about 40 per cent of the trucks on the freeway serviced the Hills.

“For example, supplying supermarkets – those trucks aren’t going anywhere,” he said.

He warned truckies would ignore the bypass if it was a “dog track”.

“If a fit-for-purpose bypass is built behind the Hills that enables the larger trucks to safely travel at 90 to 100km/h, that allows them to drop their fuel consumption,” he said.

Mr Shearer was hopeful the bypass would become a reality because Labor wanted to “neutralise” a vocal Opposition, but said the federal government must reinstate its 80-20 funding split model first.

“The current federal government changed that formula not long after they came into office, back to 50-50 – if they leave it at 50-50, we don’t think SA will have the money.”

Money for a freeway upgrade announced in May was a 50-50 split.

Our Roads SA chair Joanna Wells said the bypass would skip Truro, Sedan and Cambrai.

“Those towns are really detrimentally impacted by truck traffic, in Truro there are parents who won’t let their kids walk home from school at the end of the day because it’s too dangerous to cross the road,” Ms Wells said.

Traffic at the intersection of Glen Osmond Rd and Portrush Rd, at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway. Picture: Emma Brasier

Work on the bypass should start before the South Rd upgrade was complete, she said.

“As soon as the North-South Corridor is finished, South Rd is the shortest route between the bottom of the freeway and the North-South Corridor,” she said.

“So we need this project started on, so we don’t see unnecessary trucks down Cross Rd.”

Mr Koutsantonis said the state government wasn’t planning to divert trucks along Cross Rd and plans for the Truro bypass – dumped by the federal government a year ago – were “undercosted by the former administration”.

In 2023, Transport Department executives told community group Our Roads SA a $10m inquiry found the bypass was “economically positive”, but no funding was set aside.

Federal infrastructure minister Catherine King said the federal government was “prioritising investment proposals supported by evidence, long-term strategic plans and robust business cases, supported by co-investment from the SA Government”.

“Future road infrastructure commitments will be considered through the usual Budget processes,” she said.

Originally published as Business case for Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass being finalised, would remove only about 10 per cent of trucks from freeway