Second Swanport Bridge, Murray Bridge freight bypass funded in federal budget
The federal government has announced two major Murraylands projects as part of a $525 million spend on South Australia’s freight network.
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The Murraylands has won big in the wake of Tuesday night’s federal budget, with two of the region’s most-needed road projects funded at last.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King announced on Wednesday morning that the government would spend $525 million on improvements to South Australia’s freight network, including:
- duplicating the Swanport Bridge
- a Murray Bridge freight bypass through Monarto
Details and the timing of both projects are yet to be confirmed, but both should mean the removal of major bottlenecks and safety hazards on local roads.
The two-lane Swanport Bridge is the only point between Glen Osmond and Tailem Bend at which the South Eastern Freeway narrows to one lane in each direction, and any accidents on or near it force interstate truck traffic down Murray Bridge’s main street.
Meanwhile, the freight bypass would take truck traffic off Hindmarsh and Maurice Roads, Cypress Terrace and Mannum Road in Murray Bridge – mainly residential areas – and divert it along Ferries McDonald, Schenscher and Pallamana Roads at Monarto instead.
It is likely that any such upgrade would include improvements to the problematic intersection of those roads and the Old Princes Highway, which residents have wanted fixed for years.
Ms King said the projects would make life easier for high-productivity vehicles and the roads safer for everyone else.
“In this budget, the (federal) government is investing in infrastructure in South Australia: in the projects that are needed to make our roads safer, our freight networks more resilient and our transport links better serve communities,” she said.
“Our government is committed to working with the (state) government to get these projects done.”
Advocacy pays off in the end, Murray Bridge’s Mayor says
Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley was over the moon at the announcement.
Getting a freight bypass built had been his number-one priority in office.
“This is what government and being prepared for growth is about: getting road infrastructure in place in advance,” he said.
“This will not only make Murray Bridge a safer place, it will mean not having to worry about B-triples in residential areas scaring little old ladies.”
The duplication of the freeway bridge was important, too, he said – though “it should have been done 50 years ago”.
He suggested that the announcement justified the hours he and council CEO Heather Barclay had spent advocating for both projects with local MPs Tony Pasin and Adrian Pederick, but also Ms King, Senators Marielle Smith and Don Farrell, and state minister Tom Koutsantonis.
“This is why the CEO plays the big game,” he said.
“We need to do networking and engagement at a higher level than council ever has before because these projects are more expensive than we’ve ever had before, and bigger than the capacity of council to pay.
“We need these projects; so we have to engage, to state the need.”
More to come.
