STRATEGIC Road/rail LINK PLANNING STUDY

Transport planning – beyond the next decade

www.dtei.sa.gov.au 1300 793 458 STRATEGIC Road/rail LINK PLANNING STUDY

The Northern Connector would be a completely new multiple use A New Road and Rail transport corridor that consolidates road and rail developments in a Connector in the North far-reaching project that will be a ‘first’ for our State. The new Northern Connector would run to the west of the existing . The proposed new corridor has the capability to bring all traffic from This innovative combination of road and the north’s industrial and residential growth into and the rail services within one corridor would deliver clear benefits to the community, Port of Adelaide. It is a big picture view that will facilitate the dynamic to industry, everyday commuters and the new growth in the north. national transport network. It would improve the safety and efficiency of the state and national transport network. Transport Planning – This new road/rail corridor would reduce Beyond the Next Decade congestion on the existing Port Wakefield Road by providing an expressway standard A comprehensive planning study will soon road from the Port of Adelaide to regional be undertaken to investigate a vital part of destinations east and north of Adelaide. ’s transport needs into the For example, a 70 kilometre trip from the next decade and beyond. to the Port of Adelaide It will determine the options for a proposed would include 47 kilometres of expressway road and rail Northern Connector travelling standard road with very few interruptions from the Port Wakefield Road interchange created by traffic lights. with the to the Local communities living alongside the Expressway and South Road existing Port Wakefield Road would benefit via . from better management of traffic volumes. This proposed route would be a strategic This would assist the development of investment joining these major transport business precincts in this growing region, routes in a way that creates maximum while still maintaining direct links to high economic and social value for the State. quality transport infrastructure and services. The road would eventually allow a largely It also offers increased road safety and better unimpeded journey from Port Wakefield, quality of life for communities living adjacent the Mid North, the Barossa Valley and the to the national east-west freight rail line. to the Port of Adelaide, and the A critical step in investigating the feasibility future North-South Corridor. of the Northern Connector is the completion of a planning study. The planning study would reveal how the Northern Connector contributes to the objectives of the Australian Government’s AusLink program.

Artist impression of potential interchange with Salisbury Highway STRATEGIC Road/rail LINK PLANNING STUDY

The Northern Connector Planning Study Process

WE ARE HERE

Ñ Announcement of project ENLARGED PROPOSED ROUTE Ñ Collection of data INSIDE Ñ Ground survey, traffic investigations, Project Information Line

MARCH 2008 TO AUG 2008

Ñ Planning study Ñ Define and consult on the proposed route, identify issues and define road/rail corridor

SEPT 2008 TO SEPT 2009

Ñ Environmental Impact Assessment TIME L INE O P SE D

PR DEC 2009

Ñ South Australian and Australian Government approval of project, funding and proposed route

IF PROJECT IS APPROVED

2010 – 2011

Ñ Land acquisition

2016 – 2017 TIME L INE TENTIA L Ñ Construction P O to be completed NEW NORTHERN CONNECTOR Road/rail LINK

Northbound Carriageway Southbound Carriageway

TYPICAL X-SECTION STRATEGIC Road/rail LINK PLANNING STUDY

The area to the west of Port Wakefield The Northern Connector is a prime Road was, for the purposes of the example as it is high on the priorities of planning study, identified as a preferred the State Infrastructure Plan, the Adelaide study area, primarily due to significant Urban Corridor Strategy and will also development and residential areas located contribute towards the following targets on the eastern side. On the western in South Australia’s Strategic Plan: side development is generally less n promoting economic growth dense, comprising a mix of agricultural, horticultural, recreational, residential and n expanding export potential industrial land uses. for the State n providing strategic infrastructure A Project of National n providing infrastructure to support and State Importance communities in regions. The Australian Government, under its The 2008 Port Wakefield AusLink Program, provides funding for Road Upgrade transport links of national importance. These initiatives will contribute to AusLink’s The current upgrade of Port Wakefield key objective of assisting local and national Road is designed to cater for the increased A New Road and Rail economic and social development through traffic volumes that are occurring as a Connector in the North improvements to the safety, efficiency and result of rapid developments in the reliability of the national transport network. north of Adelaide. Traffic modelling has (continued) Importantly, the Northern Connector will shown that increased traffic volumes on In the broader context, this planning study assist in achieving these objectives from Port Wakefield Road after 2016 could: should be seen as part of an overall review both a rail and road perspective. n significantly increase the of a north to south Adelaide transport strategy AusLink is based on the concepts of better noise levels for residents – moving closer to achieving smoother and long-term planning and encouragement and businesses faster connections for people travelling via of the best ideas and solutions. It aims n impact on the surrounding the upgraded to South Road to target investment to achieve the traffic network and ultimately along a future North-South best outcomes for people, the national corridor towards Darlington and the n affect accessibility for communities economy, regions and communities. Southern Expressway. on the western and eastern side of The South Australian Government is Port Wakefield Road. committed to a long term approach to The upgraded Port Wakefield Road will planning our transport infrastructure. continue to provide the arterial link to the city from the adjacent suburbs while traffic from further field could be redirected onto the new Northern Connector.

“This is a very sensible decision for the future of the State. It not only finishes the world class access from the north to the Port of Adelaide via the, recently completed, but also connects to the developing South Road corridor. The combination will eventually provide Adelaide with an efficient north – south transport spine ensuring the needs of both freight and the public are met into the future.” Vincent Tremaine, Chair South Australia Freight Council NEW NORTHERN CONNECTOR Proposed route

S UB UR TO GAWLER BA D N R PA SS A EN M G ER M R O AIL W LI NE

A X N X DR EW M S A RD IN X N EDINBURGH O R TH

X R SALISBURY SU D BU R B AN D PA R S BAGSTER ROAD, COMMERCIAL ROAD S S S E A E N & PARK TERRACE CROSSINGS G L N I N IS G L I B E NORTHERN EXPRESSWAY IL K U R A R R R Y A K H IL R W L PROPOSED INTERMODAL O Y IN TERMINAL D E TW H E R EA N M S L R A D LI A E R R P N T R N IN S D IO R S MAWSON LAKES T O R N A D A N C B Y FIELD RD O O R RT WAKE Adelaide–Darwin Railway Line LI PO X O V L A R R E R RD D LD G T AKEFIE TO RT W A PO R

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TAYLORS ROAD T I CROSSING O TA N YL Interchange OR R S D RD

H/DARWIN TO PERT BOLIVAR X D R D L ST IE F E K R K I L A O Interchange D POSSIBLE Interchange W A T A R D O P

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PROPOSED NEW NORTHERN PROPOSED INTERCHANGE SUBURBAN PASSENGER RAIL ACCESS ROAD/RAIL LINK LEGEND PROPOSED NATIONAL NORTHERN EXPRESSWAY NATIONAL NETWORK ROAD NETWORK RAIL PORT WAKEFIELD ROAD N GAWLER

S UB UR ROAD BA H D N R PA SS A EN M GE R MAIN NORT M R O A IL KINGS ROAD CROSSING W LI NE

A X ND X RE WAY W M H S A IG RD IN H X N NORTHERN EDINBURGH O R CONNECTOR TH

X S R SALISBURY U D SALISBURY NORTHERN BU PORT EXPRESSWAY R B RIVER A EXPRESSWAY N FUTURE NORTH D PA R S SOUTH CORRIDOR S S S E A E N G L N I N IS G L I B E IL K U R A R R ADELAIDE R Y A K H IL R W L O Y IN D E TW H E R EA N M S L R A D LI A E R R P N T R N IN S D IO R S MAWSON LAKES T O R N A D A N C B Y FIELD RD O O R RT WAKE Adelaide–Darwin Railway Line LI PO X O V L A R R E R RD D IELD G T RT WAKEF TO ADELAIDE CBD A PO R

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TA N YL OR R S D RD Interchange

SOUTH ROAD BOLIVAR POSSIBLE UPGRADE X D R TO ADELAIDE AIRPORT D L ST IE F E K R K I L A O D POSSIBLE Interchange W A PORT RIVER T A R D EXPRESSWAY O P

POSSIBLE Interchange TO

SUBURBAN PASSENGER RAIL NATIONAL NETWORK RAIL EXISTING LEVEL CROSSING 0 550000 11,000,000 2,0002,000 MetresMeters

PROPOSED NATIONAL POSSIBLE EXISTING UNDERPASS/ NETWORK RAIL CONNECTOR ROADS OVERPASS 11:50,000:50,000 STRATEGIC Road/rail LINK PLANNING STUDY

About the Project n make other roads safer by diverting The freight rail link would: freight traffic away from the local road n improve safety and enhance quality The Northern Connector would involve: network and residential communities of life for nearby residents, through the n the construction of an expressway n provide a new rail link that would remove reduction of freight rail traffic through standard road in a new corridor often disruptive heavy freight trains the suburban area to the east of between the interchange connection and the interstate passenger trains Port Wakefield Road of Port Wakefield Road and the from northern suburban areas such as n reduce the environmental impact of Northern Expressway and Salisbury Salisbury, Parafield and Mawson Lakes. heavy rail freight transport through Highway (a distance of approximately These long trains can cause major suburban communities 14 kilometres) delays and traffic problems in peak n an upgrade of Salisbury Highway hours, particularly in the vicinity of n improve rail freight transport efficiencies between Port Wakefield Road and Park Terrace, Salisbury. through a higher speed and shorter South Road (approximately 3 kilometres) connection to port and intermodal facilities Port Wakefield Road would revert to an (estimated 13 minute travel time saving) n a double track freight rail link from the arterial road serving the industrial and Adelaide to Darwin/ rail line near commercial industries in the City of n improve access to Adelaide and the Pellew Road, east of Port Wakefield Salisbury. The adjacent industrial precinct Port of Adelaide for rail freight transport Road, to Dry Creek, within the central would continue to operate as normal, travelling from the north and west of corridor of the proposed new link road. with Port Wakefield Road providing easy country South Australia. movement and access to the connections The key features of the rail link for road and rail freight. would include: The road would: n a double track freight rail from the main north-south rail line (Adelaide to Darwin/ n provide the final link in a free flowing Perth) near Pellew Road on the Northern strategic northern corridor between Expressway through to Dry Creek the Port of Adelaide and the Riverland n rail tracks located centrally between road and Barossa Valley carriageways with no level crossings n improve safety for road users by reducing freight traffic, particularly n a rail connection to the main line from Port Wakefield Road north of the proposed intermodal terminal at Penfield. n improve traffic conditions along Port Wakefield Road and Benefits n improve freight efficiency and export opportunities Initial investigations reveal that the Northern Connector would: n provide a safer, faster connection to suburban destinations such as Adelaide n reduce truck movements and traffic Airport, sporting venues, beaches congestion on Port Wakefield Road and businesses in the southern and and the Salisbury Highway western suburbs n improve access to Adelaide for n reduce travel times for commuters travelling road freight transport travelling via the to and from the Northern Suburbs Sturt Highway and Port Wakefield Road n reduce overall vehicle emissions due to smoother traffic flow.

“RAA supports this investment as it will provide relief to those residents subjected to the growing road and rail freight movements through their community north of Adelaide. This project will also complement the current major infrastructure priorities of South Road and the Port Adelaide and Outer Harbor precincts.” Sharon Hanlon, General Manager Public Affairs RAA STRATEGIC Road/rail LINK PLANNING STUDY

Following the determination of a Stakeholder and The extent and process for this assessment will be determined as part of the planning preferred route, an environmental Community Engagement process but will include an assessment of: impact assessment will be Key stakeholders will be involved in the n social and economic impacts planning study to assist in determining n noise undertaken to assess the social, the preferred corridor and will consider environmental and economic factors such as: n air and water quality n cultural heritage effects of the Northern Connector. n freight efficiency n flora and fauna n safety n visual effects and landscaping n impacts on local traffic networks Next Steps n community needs Property Acquisition n land use and planning A formal planning study will now Once the planning study determines the commence, as the department’s initial n land productivity properties that are likely to be affected by the assessment of the feasibility and options n Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage new road/rail link, representatives from the for the new road is now complete. n environmental impacts department will contact the property owners The planning process will begin in 2008 at the earliest opportunity to discuss any and a broad range of community and n visual impacts required property acquisitions. stakeholder issues will be examined prior n cost to determining the preferred route. It will Important key stakeholders already identified include a full economic analysis, establish are the Councils of Salisbury, Playford and an environmental assessment process Port Adelaide Enfield as well as relevant and outline an approach for design government agencies, industry bodies, and construction. business representatives and resident groups. To assist the planning process, an illustrated A community engagement process will be concept has been developed and can be undertaken to ensure the local community found in the centre of this brochure. receives information about the project and The completion of the planning study is able to provide input and feedback. enables the South Australian Government to make a submission to the Australian Environmental Issues Government for funding under AusLink 2 Following the determination of a preferred and 3, the next two funding rounds under route, an environmental impact assessment this important cost sharing grants program. will be undertaken to assess the social, environmental and economic effects of the Northern Connector.

For F urther I nformation

As further information becomes available it Email [email protected] will be released on our website Information line 1300 793 458 www.dtei.sa.gov.au (Follow the links to the New Northern Connector.) Interpreter Service 1300 793 458

www.dtei.sa.gov.au