Northern Expressway
- What is the Northern Expressway?
- Why do we need the expressway?
- What are the benefits?
- What are the key features?
- Where will the expressway go?
- How will environmental effects be considered?
- What happens if the proposed route goes through my property?
- How can you have a say?
- For more information?
- Interactive Map
Surveys and geotechnical testing of soils are being undertaken within the Northern Expressway corridor over the next few months. This work is an important aspect of the design phase and will enable the progression of the project.
The work will be conducted in accordance with the Commissioner of Highways legal responsibilities under Section 27(f) of the Highways Act, 1926.
Depending on the size and location of the property one or all of the following activities may occur:
Access by a backhoe to dig a trench (approx 3m long x 1.0m wide x 1.5m deep at 400m intervals along the corridor). The trench will be back filled immediately following the work.
A 4x4 wheel drive vehicle will undertake push tube investigations i.e. a 70mm diameter tube pushed into the ground to sample soil. Testing will involve driving a steel rod into the ground to 1.5m.
Geotechnical investigations are also occurring at each of the bridge sites, these will involve either a backhoe or a drilling rig to enable soil samples to a depth of 25m.
Location of underground services.
Vegetation survey to identify significant trees, native vegetation, planted vegetation and weeds within the corridor.
Aboriginal Heritage monitoring of earthworks at archaeologically sensitive locations.
If you need further information please call 1300 658 621
An Environmental Report has been prepared to describe the Northern Expressway proposal and evaluate its potential environmental, social and economics effects.
The Northern Expressway Environmental Report Supplement responds to issues raised by the community, describes further investigations that have been undertaken and describes and illustrates changes to the proposal resulting from community engagement activities.
What is the Northern Expressway?
The Northern Expressway will be a new road initially joining the Sturt Highway to Port Wakefield Road – and then linking to the Port River Expressway. It will involve:
- the construction of a new, two-way expressway standard road between Gawler and Port Wakefield Road (approximately
23 kilometres), and - an upgrade of Port Wakefield Road from north of Taylor Road to the Salisbury Highway (10 kilometres) to cater for future traffic volumes. Click here to view map of proposed works.
The Northern Expressway project is a joint initiative by the Australian and South Australian Governments under the AusLink program. It will be the largest road construction project in the state since the 1960s.
Why do we need the expressway?
The aim of the Northern Expressway is to:
- improve the northern regional economy, and
- reduce the impact of freight transport on suburban areas.
The Northern Expressway will reduce driving time and increase safety for travellers from the Mid-North, Riverland and regional communities. People who commute between Gawler and the Port of Adelaide , and the western and southern suburbs of Adelaide will also benefit.
The route will reduce truck movements along Main North Road and Salisbury Highway . The expressway will improve access
to Adelaide for freight transport travelling via the Sturt Highway . This includes freight coming from key areas such as the Barossa Valley and the Riverland. Once linked with the Port River Expressway, there will be predicted travel time savings of up to 20 minutes between the Sturt Highway at Gawler and the Port of Adelaide – South Australia 's main shipping port.
The Northern Expressway contributes to AusLink's key objective of assisting national economic and social development aimed at improving the efficiency, safety and reliability of the national transport network.
It will also contribute towards the following targets in South Australia 's Strategic Plan:
- promoting economic growth
- expanding export potential for the State
- providing strategic infrastructure
- providing infrastructure to support communities in regions.
The Northern Expressway will:
- provide significant economic benefits to the state
- improve traffic conditions for local residents in Angle Vale and the northern suburbs near Main North Road
- make roads safer by reducing freight, in particular Angle Vale and Heaslip Roads
- provide a quicker and safer connection with suburban destinations such as Adelaide Airport, shopping centres, sports stadiums, beaches, residences and businesses
- connect to the new Port River Expressway, allowing drivers to use on-off connections at South Road and Hanson Road as well as Port Adelaide
- allow travellers, and particularly freight traffic, to avoid any traffic congestion along the existing Main North Road
- help to reduce vehicle pollution emissions due to smoother traffic flow along the Northern Expressway and Main North Road.
Click the image to see the full size map
The proposed route for the Northern Expressway is shown here. For more detailed information please refer to the brochure available for download in pdf format.
The proposed route was developed as a result of a planning study which has been ongoing since 2003. The study considered a variety of routes and looked at how to:
- improve safety for all road users
- improve freight efficiencies
- reduce effects on local and regional traffic networks
- consider the needs of landowners and local residents
- reduce effects on land productivity
- reduce effects on indigenous and non-indigenous heritage sites
- avoid splitting up communities
- reduce environmental effects such as changes to noise,
air and water quality.
Contributors to the planning process included State and Australian government departments, local councils, industry and local business organisation representatives. Community consultation on the proposed route is an important next step. The proposed route will now undergo an environmental assessment.
Following this assessment, a final decision on the proposed route will be made. The proposed project is subject to the finalisation of agreed funding between the State and Australian governments.
Gawler to Port Wakefield Road section:
- four lane, two-way expressway with divided roadway
- speed limit of 110km/hr
- full speed connection at Gawler, linking with the Gawler by-pass
- entry to the expressway via interchanges
- overpasses across the expressway
- changes to the road network
- Upgrade to Port Wakefield Road section ( Taylor Road to Salisbury Highway ):
- additional traffic lanes on Port Wakefield Road in some sections
- improvements to some junctions
- install new and upgrade existing traffic lights to increase capacity
- improvements to the Salisbury Highway/Port Wakefield Road bridge
- improve safety by removing some right turn access points by: closing some median openings, providing left in/left out arrangements for connecting roads, and adjusting U-turn facilities.
How will environmental effects be considered?
An environmental assessment has commenced and will continue during the community engagement process.
It will identify and quantify the environmental, social and economic effects of the Northern Expressway proposal. The investigations will relate to technical areas such as:
- noise
- air quality
- cultural heritage
- flora and fauna
- visual effect and landscaping
- water quality and hydrology
- socio-economic impact
- land use and planning
- traffic and transport
- infrastructure
Project team members working in the area will be clearly identified. Their presence will not mean that any particular property is to be affected by the project.
The environmental report will describe the Northern Expressway, summarise its effects and describe the proposed ways to avoid or minimise any adverse effects. It will be available for public comment in the first half of 2007. Comments received from the community will be considered and inform any revision of the concept design. A supplementary report document will also be prepared.
Click here for additional information relating to the environment.
What happens if the proposed route goes through my property?
Some properties will need to be purchased by the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) so that the Northern Expressway can be constructed. The Department is authorised under the Highways Act 1926 to acquire land required for road development purposes.
Approved guidelines will be followed when contact is made with potentially affected property owners or occupiers. Staff of DTEI will individually contact these people.
Information about property owner rights will be provided.
If you believe that your property might be acquired, and you have not yet been contacted directly, then please contact the Northern Expressway team on 1300 658 621.
For more information regarding Property, please click here.
Community engagement during the environmental assessment and response process will occur from November 2006 until mid-2007. Its purpose is to obtain feedback, identify issues, and provide input into the environmental assessment process.
Click here for more information about displays and open days.
Dates and times for displays and open days will be advertised in local papers and will be available on the Northern Expressway website.
Click here for details on how to obtain more information or how to contact us.
Further information about the project will be available on our website:
www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au or
Email northernexpressway@saugov.sa.gov.au
Please contact us if you would like more information or would like to provide input into the environmental assessment process.
Information line 1300 658 621
Interpreter information 1300 658 621
Text message (SMS) 1999NEXY
SMS cost is 25c per message of up to 160 characters regardless of carrier.
Note: This information is also available in the form of a brochure which can be viewed in HTML format or downloaded in PDF format. To view the PDF format brochure you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
