Playford Alive’s Newtown Boulevard road extension officially opens, hoping to relieve Curtis Rd

It’s one of the “riskiest roads” in SA – but a new extension now open is meant to give motorists a much clearer ride.

A major new road extension in Adelaide’s northern suburbs will solve one of the most chaotic suburban roads in the area, the state government says.

A 260m stretch of Newton Boulevard – within Renewal SA’s Playford Alive housing development – officially opened to motorists on Monday.

It spans 1.95km across two single-lane roads with a median strip, and is intended to provide an alternative route bypassing the notorious Curtis Rd by linking the housing estate to Stebonheath Rd.

The new extension is expected to provide an easier pathway to Mark Oliphant College, Adelaide North Special School and the newly announced 1300-home Playford Alive East estate on the eastern side.

A traffic report into the 1300-home development says Curtis Rd is already at capacity with the proposed estate expected to worsen traffic flow in the area.

More than 24,000 cars use Curtis Rd every day and it was voted as the state’s most riskiest road for 2025 in the RAA’s Risky Roads survey.

Newton Boulevard’s extension under construction at Munno Para. Picture: Supplied

The Newton Boulevard extension is part of a $5.7m state government project to improve the surrounding area of Playford Alive.

Housing Minister Nick Champion said the extension was a “major step” for Playford Alive and Adelaide’s northern suburbs and would help ease congestion.

“Initiatives like this, with a strong focus on affordability and community infrastructure, are key to addressing the housing needs of our growing population,” Mr Champion said.

A spokeswoman for Playford Council said they are “pleased” that the extension is now complete, which is expected to improve access to “Munno Para West through to Mark Oliphant College” and the local area.

However, council believes the state government needs to implement a long-term solution for Curtis Rd, given the increased number of housing developments in the area.

“While opening Newton Blvd is an important step in easing local east-west traffic challenges in that corridor, council remains firm that a whole-of-road solution is required for the upgrade of Curtis Road,” the spokeswoman said.

“This needs the contribution of all tiers of government.”

The council also believes a traffic study commissioned by the state government in 2023, would be “critical in determining the design for an integrated solution” for road upgrades.

“This study has not been shared with Council,” they said.

In March, Mr Champion said the state government was exploring “all options to improve the traffic management, road quality and safety” of Curtis Rd.

He said Playford Council had “underinvested” in the road, which is a council asset.

But Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty said in March that the traffic congestion along Curtis Rd – and other key east-west roads in the area – was caused by the state government land “rezonings, releases, and ongoing housing developments”.

The Playford Alive land release in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Image/Russell Millard Photography

Next week, 35 blocks of land on Playford Alive’s eastern side will be available for sale, with about 30 per cent of the homes being affordable – predicted to attract more young families and first homebuyers.

Renewal SA is hoping to release about 240 allotments for sale per year in line with ongoing civil works.

The state government recently announced three development-ready land parcels in the heart of the precinct were up for sale, which includes the last opportunity for additional commercial space to be built in the Playford Alive town centre.

Up to 20 homes are expected to be build on two 1500 sqm blocks and a three-to-four-storey commercial building on the smaller plot.

The Playford Alive project, 30km north of Adelaide, will renew 500ha in Andrews Farm and Munno Para and revamp neighbouring suburbs Smithfield and Davoren Park.

It will feature a $250m town centre, thousands of homes, and community facilities, with more than 43,000 people expected to live there once completed.

Playford Council was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Playford Alive’s Newtown Boulevard road extension officially opens, hoping to relieve Curtis Rd