The contract to design and build the $55 million Gawler East Link Road (GELR) in South Australia has been awarded to local company Bardavcol, and detailed design works are set to commence shortly.
The 5.5-kilometre stretch of road will link Main North Road to the residential developments that are underway in Gawler East, Gawler South, and Evanston Park – which are expected to create 3,500 new homes to house an additional 8,400 residents.
“Not only will this $55 million project help reduce congestion and delays in the town centre, it will also provide a critical link to growing residential areas in Gawler.
“Building this road will also drive further investment in these residential developments and that will lead to more construction jobs for locals,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said.
This project will include new traffic signals as well as upgrade works to the Main North Road intersection with Potts and Para roads. Para Road will also be upgraded and a bridge over the South Para River is going to be built.
New traffic signals will also be added through a separate $4 million upgrade to the nearby intersection of Main North, Tulloch and Morrow roads.
Once completed, the GELR will also serve as an alternate route for existing residents in Gawler East who want to access Main North Road – which will help reduce traffic in the Gawler town centre.
An investment of more than $8 million has been contributed by developers such as Springwood Communities as well as the Town of Gawler to the cost of the project, stimulating investment in the upcoming residential developments which will boost the local economy and help create jobs.
The delivery of the GELR is expected to support up to 110 construction jobs.
“This is a great project for Bardavcol as we have not only done a lot of work for DPTI in this region over the years, but most of workforce lives here as well.
“Bardavcol is a proud SA-owned company that employs South Australians, including engineering graduates and trainees.
“This project will create new employment opportunities for South Australians and we look forward to delivering a high quality project along with our design partner Tonkin Consulting,” Bardavcol Managing Director Darren Foster said.
Major construction works on the GELR are expected to commence later this year and be completed in 2019.
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Source: Premier of South Australia