The Hon Catherine King MP
Done and dusted! Port Wakefield projects complete
After proving their worth as a solution to traffic bottlenecks, the Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication have officially opened.
The $124.5 million overpass and newly duplicated Port Wakefield Highway have already proven to make a real difference since traffic was first switched onto the new configuration.
Recent long weekends and school holidays saw traffic flowing smoothly through the town and on towards the Yorke Peninsula and the state’s north.
Work completed includes:
- Two lanes in each direction through Port Wakefield, with allowance for safe U-turns
- A new two-lane overpass for traffic travelling southbound from the Copper Coast Highway to Port Wakefield, and for traffic travelling along the Augusta Highway to the Copper Coast Highway
- The removal of hazardous turns at the intersection of the Port Wakefield, Copper Coast and Augusta highways
- Improved pedestrian access and landscaping in the township of Port Wakefield
- Realignment of the Balaklava Road intersection to allow for safer turns
- New bridges over the Wakefield River
The works have also improved parking through the town to support local businesses. Port Wakefield Highway typically carries nearly 9,000 vehicles per day, however this can almost double during holiday peak periods and on long weekends.
The project has been delivered by the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Alliance, a consortium comprising of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and GHD, in conjunction with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
The project has been jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on an 80:20 basis. Both governments wish to thank the community for their patience and cooperation during construction.
The project team has today hosted a celebration to thank the community for their cooperation and their patience during the construction process.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
I’m thrilled to see the difference this project is already making for the region. The project has improved traffic flow, reduced congestion and bolstered safety by removing the dangerous intersection of the Port Wakefield, Copper Coast and Augusta highways.
Importantly, it has also improved safety and freight productivity along the National Land Transport Network, which will have flow-on benefits for businesses and communities.
The Australian Government is proud to have contributed just under $100 million to make this project a reality – and is just one example of our commitment to working with the South Australian Government today to deliver the infrastructure of the future.
Quotes attributable to South Australian Minister for Regional Roads Geoff Brock:
The completion of the $124.5 million Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication project is a major milestone for infrastructure in South Australia.
We’ve seen over recent long weekends and school holidays encouraging results, with monitoring showing that traffic flowed smoothly with no reports of problems or delays.
Traffic congestion and accidents near Port Wakefield – especially around the holidays – have long caused headaches for drivers, but they are now a thing of the past. The upgrade has passed its first tests and we’re looking forward to seeing it continue benefiting road users for many years to come.
It has reduced congestion and improved safety and traffic flow for all motorists, including the thousands of South Australians who travel through Port Wakefield on their way to holiday destinations on the Yorke Peninsula or beyond.
This has been a long-awaited project, and we’re thankful to both the local community and drivers passing through for their patience. We encourage anybody passing by the stop in, grab something from a bakery or a local business, and support this town as part of your holiday travels.