ISSUE 7 SPRING 2010 infrastructure.sa.gov.au pride of the north Traffic is flowing on the nation’s newest and smoothest freeway, the Northern Expressway, months ahead of schedule. The Northern Expressway is the largest South Australian road project of the past 50 years. It is now taking around 20 minutes off a trip inside this issue from the Barossa to Adelaide or the Port by linking the Sturt Highway with Port Wakefield > rail electrification Road and the Port River Expressway. > new royal adelaide hospital Project Director Luigi Rossi said the sheer size and scale of the project gave the opening > state aquatic centre celebration, attended by several thousand people, > south road superway extra meaning and value for the local community. > sturt highway “The locals have been remarkably patient and understanding while we have delivered this new > rail revitalisation expressway – I thank them for their support during > seaford rail extension the past few years,” he said. > gp plus > Riders sample Australia’s smoothest road. continued page 12 www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au Spring 2010 1 sturt highway by Hook contents upgrade p15 When we put rail revitalisation together the very p16-17 first edition ofNew gawler Connections more than two years ago, the focus was very much gp plus on transport and p18 elizabeth the unprecedented northern delivery of major p12-13 road projects expressway around Adelaide. gp plus dry creek p18 modbury Since then we have broadened our focus to include rail car depot p4 significant developments within Adelaide’s public transport network. Now, investment in infrastructure continues coast to coast to boom creating a genuine buzz and sense light rail p6 of positive evolution about our city. south road And so we too are evolving. p14 superway New Connections will continue to provide electrification p3 you with all the information you need about new royal what’s happening in your neighbourhood. p5 glenelg tram adelaide hospital But, in this edition, you’ll also be given a first overpass p19 hand look at how both infrastructure and gp plus transport developments help provide services p10-11 marion vital to the everyday lives of more than a million state aquatic South Australians. centre p10-11 Specifically, you’ll see how our work in the transport p8 flinders medical centre sector complements what is being done by our redevelopment counterparts in health and community services. glengowrie tram depot p18 We are already seeing the fruits of that integration southern expressway and forward-planning with the recently extended p9 duplication tramline now running right past the future front rail revitalisation door of a brand new Royal Adelaide Hospital. noarlunga p9,16-17 There promises to be plenty more equally strategic strategic infrastructure plan and exciting stops along the way. gp plus > Develop and deepen Outer Harbor and substantially I look forward to continuing the journey with you. p8 noarlunga improve infrastructure at the Port of Adelaide. > Improve the north-south corridor. Rod Hook seaford Executive Director rail extension p7 > Develop and maintain regional freight networks. Office of Major Projects and Infrastructure > Increase use of public transport. planning a better future Here’s your chance to get involved in planning a better future for the state because South Australia’s Strategic Plan is to be updated. Chair of the Community Engagement Board, This next update will make sure the plan Peter Blacker says the plan draws together still reflects our collective aspirations for our hopes and aspirations. the next decade and beyond. “South Australia is a great place to live, but we Now is your chance to contribute to can always improve, we can always get better,” South Australia’s future – we have so many he said. different and fun ways you can get involved. “Now’s the time to revisit the plan and we’re Get involved by: undertaking the broadest consultation process yet – • visiting www.saplan.org.au and check out with thousands of South Australians getting involved. when the consultation sessions are running “We want to hear from you about where you’d • joining us on facebook: like SA to go – and your contribution will be www.facebook.com/YourFutureSA part of the planning process. • catching up on Twitter: “You can comment on areas that interest you, www.twitter.com/YourFutureSA such as health, education, training, business, • checking out our images on Flickr: the economy or the environment.” www.flickr.com/photos/YourFutureSA The inaugural plan was launched in March 2004 • having a say on YouTube: and the last time it was updated was 2006. www.youtube.com/YourFutureSA > Public transport is a key element of the strategic plan. 2 Spring 2010 faster more frequent greener more efficient an electric atmosphere > Electric trains will run in Adelaide in 2013. Concept image for illustrative purposes only. Adelaide is the only mainland capital city in Australia still operating exclusively with diesel trains, but times are changing. It’s the centrepiece of a massive overhaul of bit like restoring a vintage motor car,” he said. Electrification of the network will begin in earnest next year with planning and contractual work suburban train operations, but just how will “ The track upgrades are underway – that’s not already in progress. Adelaide’s railway lines be electrified and what will unlike putting a new set of tyres on the car – this $400 million plus undertaking deliver for you? it’s a necessary first step. A comprehensive community engagement program will be undertaken as part of the Put simply, electrification will see construction of an “But specifically electrification is effectively overall electrification project. overhead wiring system along Adelaide’s rail corridors installing the new engine.” used to power brand new electric railcars. Construction will be staged, beginning with the And it’s that new engine that will deliver Noarlunga and Gawler lines where the first electric But the construction task isn’t limited to the installation a host of benefits to public transport customers, trains will run in 2013 and continuing to the Outer of poles and wires, it also covers the intricate residents in the vicinity of rail corridors and Harbor line where new trains will run in 2015. and essential work to ensure the new system’s the broader community. compatibility with existing infrastructure. With the delivery of new railcars and track upgrades, Work will be undertaken to build new substations, the electrified network provides a platform for faster, provide connections to the power grid and, more frequent and more efficient train services. importantly, implement a host of safety measures. It delivers environmental benefits, such as reduced It’s already been described as arguably the noise and local air pollution, through the elimination most complex transport project ever undertaken of exhaust fumes, while electric trains are cheaper electrification in South Australia. to purchase and have lower operational and As Project Director Tim Warren explains, unlike maintenance costs. many major road projects the team responsible “Electrification is the integrator project – we quite for electrifying the rail network doesn’t have literally have to make sure everything we do will what’s happened the luxury of a blank canvas. fit with both the existing network and any new > Expressions of interest issued to design “I guess in some ways what we are doing is a infrastructure.” and construction consortia for major works late 2009. working with the community > Three consortia shortlisted early 2010. Electrification of our rail lines is a project that is significant for a what’s next broad spectrum of people across Adelaide – not just the thousands of commuters who use rail lines each day. > Major works package tenders close late 2010. > Traction power tenders close late 2010. Project Director, Tim Warren is keen that nearby “It will also be a catalyst for urban regeneration > Major site work second half of 2011. property owners and the many people who along the rejuvenated corridors. may have opportunities to work directly “We want to get people involved and make sure or indirectly in the project delivery are aware everyone knows what is happening, so we’ll fast facts of rail electrification activities. be increasing our distribution of information about “This promises to be a very exciting and rewarding the project in the near future.” > More than 100 km of track will be electrified. project and one that will usher in a new era for The project team will provide updates on project > Electric trains are quieter than the diesel rail in Adelaide,” he said. progress and information on key aspects and models currently in service. areas of interest to the community. “It’s a project for the whole of Adelaide in the sense > Overhead wires will carry 25,000 volts that it brings our rail system up to a world-standard “We’ll explain how anyone can get further of electricity. quality and may attract people to public transport information and, importantly, how feedback > Screening will be installed at all bridges who have never considered it before. can be provided to the project team.” and pedestrian overpasses. delivering our transport future now www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au Spring 2010 3 rail switch clears dry creek railcar depot health home what’s happened The process to purchase 66 new electric Work on the brand new state-of- > Testing and commissioning of depot trains to be maintained at the facility is the-art Railcar Depot at Dry Creek facilities, including the train wash already underway. and train lift, began in August and is nearing completion, clearing the The Dry Creek facility replaces the existing will continue over the coming months. way for the North Terrace railyard rail yards on North Terrace – the future home > Complex new signalling systems site to become the centrepiece of of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital and installation work is underway.