M2 – Murray Bridge Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass
“Crash closes freeway” has become an all too familiar news headline in Adelaide.
Whether it’s taking children to school, taking farm produce to markets or long-haul interstate freight, road safety is paramount.
When the SA Highways Dept designed the SE Freeway, it did not expect the level of residential development to take place that has occurred since. The Adelaide Hills has become one of the fastest growing urban areas in the State and commuter traffic on the SE Freeway has increased exponentially. Long-haul freight transport has become incompatible with that level of commuter traffic. Truck drivers dislike the current SE Freeway situation as much as commuters.
A solution is available. A solution that takes trucks and semi-trailers off the freeway, off Portrush Road, off Hampstead Road, off Grand Junction Road and will get freight to the shipyards and to the new northern precinct quicker, safer and cheaper.
To put things into perspective, long-haul freight transport on the SE Freeway is mainly coming from Melbourne – a 740km journey. A new north-bound road from Murray Bridge, connecting to the existing Sturt Highway would deliver freight to the northern Adelaide development precinct by-passing the SE Freeway and Adelaide’s suburban roads completely.
While adding approximately 70 kms to the overall journey – less than 10% of the distance from Melbourne – this non-stop route would not increase the journey-time. Adelaide’s suburban road congestion and approximately 30 sets of traffic lights between the Tollgate at Glen Osmond and Osborne reduces freight transport to a snail’s pace.
According to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (Report No 148), the cost of building new highways in Australia is approximately $5m per lane per kilometre. A new 90 km four-lane Murray Bridge–Sturt Highway would therefore cost around $2bn. The safety benefits of such a project however would be incalculable and the cost of building the road would be recouped through increased productivity, fewer accidents and less suburban road maintenance.
Upgrading the Sturt Highway from Annadale to Gawler would cost significantly less.
Further reading:
Department for Infrastructure and Transport Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass
City of Burnside Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass
City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass
SA Councils Joint Statement Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass