Published on : Tuesday, April 9, 2019
The $95 million promised to fund the project in the next financial year could be used to advance design details and preliminary works, for what will be the state’s largest and most expensive infrastructure project, RAA said.
“RAA welcomes the federal opposition’s commitment to speed up the early stages of this vital project,’’ RAA Senior Manager Road Safety, Charles Mountain said.
He said investment in SA’s key transport routes was necessary to improve road safety, increase productivity and future proof key corridors for subsequent generations.
Today’s opposition announcement follows years of lobbying by RAA for a non-stop link between Gawler and Noarlunga, which was a federal government promise to South Australians back in 2014.
Mr Mountain said finishing the North-South Corridor will enable South Australia to realise the full benefit of nearly $5 billion already invested in the motorway and unlock the state’s true economic potential.
According to RAA, investing in the North-South Corridor will have flow-on benefits, including major reductions in traffic congestion on some of the state’s key routes, such as Port Wakefield Road, Main North Road and Marion Road.
“Reducing congestion is important, but safety is a major reason why this key corridor is one of RAA’s federal election priorities,” Mr Mountain said.
“Tragically, in the five years from 2013-2017, there have been 385 casualty crashes on the 10.5km stretch of road between the River Torrens and Quinlan Avenue.
“The support of both major parties for this key metropolitan project to reduce congestion and improve road safety is welcome – but upgrades of major South Australian highways are also urgently needed.
“RAA is calling for duplication of the Dukes and Augusta highways, as well as the inclusion of Riddoch Highway on the National Highway Network, as key priorities for the next federal government.’’
Mr Mountain said investment in SA’s key transport routes was necessary to improve road safety, increase productivity and future proof key corridors for subsequent generations.
“We urgently need a strategic approach for investment in critical infrastructure to reduce the unacceptable road toll.”
Source:- RAA