SA Govt invests in roads & transport network projects in recent State Budget 2024-25

The South Australian Government recently released the 2024-25 State Budget which highlights a significant investment in infrastructure, roads and transport, and road safety that will not only deliver better and safer transport networks but will also generate jobs. 

One of the major investments in infrastructure is for the $15.4 billion North-South Corridor – River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project which includes $7 billion up to 2027-28. The project’s tender process for a head contractor is on track to have a contract awarded in the third quarter of 2024. Main construction on the T2D project is expected to commence in 2025 and be completed in 2031. 

The Budget also highlights significant investments in roads and transport across the State. This includes: 

• $200 million over three years for the South Eastern Freeway upgrade – the additional funding will help complete the delivery of a managed motorway between the Tollgate and Crafers on the South Eastern Freeway, improving safety and traffic management through infrastructure improvements, lane management and incident response. 
• $150 million over four years for the Mount Barker and Verdun interchange upgrade – to upgrade two interchanges with the South Eastern Freeway at Mount Barker and Verdun to reduce congestion and improve safety. 
• $31.8 million over three years for Main South Road overtaking lanes – the construction of three overtaking lanes on Main South Road between Normanville and Cape Jervis, honouring the State Government’s election commitment to build the three new overtaking lanes. 
• $20 million over four years for the planning of the Riverland network flood resilience upgrades – transport network improvements to support the Riverland region to improve network resilience following the River Murray flood event. 
• $10.8 million over five years for Port Dock rail services – to commence operations of the Port Dock railway line to provide a 30-minute service on weekdays and weekends, and bus connectivity to the new Port Dock bus and rail interchange, supporting the delivery of the State Government’s election commitment. 
• $10 million over three years for planning for Adelaide northern growth areas – transport network improvements to support Adelaide’s northern growth areas. 
• $5 million in 2024-25 for the Adelaide metropolitan bus fleet decarbonisation – to complete planning for bus and depot infrastructure to support transition to a zero-emissions public transport fleet. 
• $2 million in 2024-25 for the Adelaide metropolitan rail fleet decarbonisation – to deliver planning studies to identify solutions to support transition to a zero-emissions public transport rail fleet. 

“Our regions are critical to the prosperity of this state. 

“They contribute $37.5 billion to the SA economy – approximately 26 per cent of Gross State Product. 

“This Budget invests in health, housing, roads, primary industries, police and cost of living relief to build better regions for today and tomorrow,” Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said. 

The South Australian Government is also investing $80.1 million for the road safety package that includes: 

• Enhanced enforcement – $38.7 million over four years for purchase, implementation and ongoing operation and maintenance of additional road safety cameras, providing red light speed cameras or point-to-point cameras at high-risk locations. This includes 12 additional red light speed cameras installed in 2024-25 alongside three additional point-to-point cameras installed in 2025-26. 
• Road safety maintenance – $35 million over three years to deliver additional road safety maintenance for regional and metropolitan roads, including road resurfacing, replacement of safety barriers and audio tactile line marking, and maintenance of electrical assets. 
• Heavy vehicle rest areas – $3.8 million over three years for the construction of a new heavy vehicle restr area at Salt Creek along the Princes Highway, helping heavy vehicle drivers manage fatigue and improve road safety whilst commuting on South Australian roads. 
• Implementation of 40km/h on arterial roads near schools – $2.6 million over three years to implement reduced speed limits of 40km/h at priority locations on arterial roads near schools, including the installation of variable speed limit signs. The speed limit will apply on weekday mornings and afternoons when children are being dropped off and picked up from school, and does not apply on weekends, school holidays and public holidays. However, this new limit does not replace or remove the existing 25km/h school zones on local streets. 

About 117 lives were lost last year, which is the worst since 2010, and SAPOL said that dangerous driver behaviour such as speeding and running red lights are a major factor in road incidents. 

“These measures target speeding and dangerous drivers who put themselves and other road users at risk. 

“They also help students get to and from school safely during busy periods on our roads. 

“This investment, backed by better driver behaviour, will go a long way in reducing road trauma,” Minister for Polica, Emergency Services and Correctional Services Dan Cregan MP said. 

The additional safety cameras are expected to be operational from mid-2025, with all cameras online from mid-2026. This will allow time for the cameras to be collaborated and commissioned. 

All revenue from speed cameras and mobile phone detection cameras will be returned to the Community Road Safety Fund that allocates money towards safety initiatives including policing, infrastructure projects, black spots, education and training programs, road safety campaigns, road safety community grants and bike education in schools. 

Source: Government of South Australia – State Budget 2024-25 (1, 2, 3); Government of South Australia – News (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia