SA won’t budge on Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass

This story is now free to read. Help Murray Bridge News tell more stories like this by subscribing today.

A $262.5 million funding gap means Murray Bridge is no closer to getting a freight bypass it was promised a year ago.

South Australia’s state budget for 2026-27, presented on Thursday, did not include any extra money for a second Swanport Bridge or a freight bypass which will divert trucks through Monarto.

The $1.05 billion project – called the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass – was announced in last year’s federal budget, with the federal government initially promising to meet 50 per cent of that cost.

Three months later, the state government announced it would cover 20% of the cost.

A public servant told Murray Bridge News at Thursday’s budget lock-up that Canberra had since indicated a willingness to move to a 60:40 funding split.

That did not match the figure quoted in the budget, which suggested the project was currently 75% funded.

In any case, SA was unwilling to go any higher, Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said.

“The major beneficiaries of this project are interstate freight (businesses) … moving large B-triples through our network,” he said.

“How can I look South Australians in the eye and say South Australia’s got half the bill for a road productivity network where most of the benefits are outside South Australia?

“I’m not gonna do it.”

If the two governments’ refusal to budge meant the project never went ahead, would he accept that, Murray Bridge News asked?

“Well, that would be a great loss for the nation,” he said.

Get on with it, Liberals say

Last week, state Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn had urged both governments to get on with it.

“There are countless businesses and residents who can’t make decisions about their future until they know what is happening with this proposal,” Ms Hurn said.

“We would like to see works commence as soon as possible so that we can make our roads safer and keep South Australia moving.”

In federal parliament, MP Tony Pasin repeated a previous warning that the whole project would fall apart without funding.

“The truth is, we're not going to see the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass in this term of government,” he predicted.

“In fact, my prediction is we won’t see it for a very long time.”

Building a bypass around Murray Bridge, and getting trucks off Hindmarsh and Maurice Roads, has also been a major focus for the city’s council for years.

Mayor Wayne Thorley said ahead of the 2022 council election that it would be his top priority in office.

Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that what Murray Bridge News was told on Thursday did not match the figure quoted in the budget.