northernexpressway environmental report B Part B. Need for the Proposal and Consideration of Alternatives 4. Justifi cation and benefi ts of the Northern Expressway and Port Wakefi eld Road Upgrade 4-1 5. Alternative routes considered and the selected route 5-1 6. Economic and fi nancial assessment 6-1 Northern Expressway Environmental Report 4 Justification and benefits of the Northern Expressway and Port Wakefield Road Upgrade 4.1 Introduction The proposed Northern Expressway and Port Wakefield Road Upgrade will provide significant State and regional benefits, in particular by improving access to Adelaide for freight transport via the Sturt Highway, including freight for export from key areas such as the Barossa Valley wine producing area and the Riverland wine and citrus producing area. Together with the Port River Expressway, it will provide a high standard link between the Sturt Highway at Gawler and the Port of Adelaide, South Australia’s main shipping port. It will remove much heavy freight traffic from Main North Road, Angle Vale Road and Heaslip Road, lessening congestion and improving safety for urban traffic in the northern suburbs. 4.1.1 Background Part A outlined the various studies undertaken that justify the need for the Northern Expressway. For example, the Strategic Planning Study by SKM in 1998 concluded that there was a need to provide additional capacity for traffic movement from the outer northern suburbs, and that it is significantly more cost effective to develop a new route on the fringe of the northern urban area than to upgrade the existing Main North Road through northern metropolitan Adelaide. A route following the Angle Vale Road–Heaslip Road corridor, bypassing the Angle Vale township, was identified as being the preferred route for a new National Network road link. At the time, the study also recommended an upgrade of Port Wakefield Road between Waterloo Corner and Salisbury Highway from four to six lanes to accommodate the additional traffic generated as a result of the new route. The 2001 strategic review of upgrading options for a proposed new National Network link in the northern Adelaide area, by Transport SA (now DTEI), confirmed the findings of the previous study that the preferred long-term route for the National Network link was along the Angle Vale Road–Heaslip Road corridor. Substantial growth and investment in the northern suburbs since the 1998 SKM study and the Transport SA strategic review add weight to the need for the project. Figure 4.1 illustrates traffic congestion on Heaslip Road and the national rail crossing in the study area. 4.2 National, regional and local planning and transport strategies supporting the proposal 4.2.1 AusLink The proposed Northern Expressway is South Australia’s largest project under the current AusLink bilateral agreement with funding required over the first and second AusLink Investment Programs. 4-1 Northern Expressway Environmental Report The project will have significant benefits to the economic development of South Australia and amenity benefits to people living in Angle Vale and the northern suburbs that straddle Main North Road, as well as road safety benefits. The two components of the project (Northern Expressway and the Port Wakefield Road Upgrade) represent a single project under AusLink and are planned for implementation between 2007 and 2011. The key challenges and short-term strategic priorities relevant to this project are indicated in the recent joint DOTARS and DTEI document, Adelaide Urban Corridors Strategy: • Challenges: – rapid growth in freight activity – the amount of interstate freight that originates from, is destined for, or passes through Adelaide is expected to double by 2025, and the amount of urban road freight activity is expected to grow by around 60% – increasing congestion, predominantly at intersections – efficient road and rail access to intermodal terminals especially with regard to managing congestion on road links to terminals and the adjacent road networks • Short-term priorities (to 2015): – complete the construction of the Northern Expressway and protect these corridors from future congestion and crashes caused by local traffic – make better use of existing road and rail infrastructure through a combination of: • targeted infrastructure enhancements, such as road widening and grade separation • improved traffic control • further deployment of intelligent transport systems (ITS), including better incident management – develop and implement a freight network strategy for the efficient movement of freight by road and rail across and through Adelaide, including developing more effective links to existing and proposed intermodal facilities. 4.2.2 South Australia’s Strategic Plan South Australia’s Strategic Plan expresses the South Australian Government’s priorities for South Australia. The proposed Northern Expressway and Port Wakefield Road Upgrade is an essential driver to the State’s economic development and will help achieve a number of targets in the revised plan (updated 2007), in particular: Objective 1 – Growing Prosperity • Target 1.1 Economic growth • Target 1.14 Total exports • Target 1.21 Strategic infrastructure. 4-2 Northern Expressway Environmental Report Train approaching Taylors Road crossing Traffic on Angle Vale Road Figure 4.1 Road and rail conditions within the study area 4-3 Northern Expressway Environmental Report 4.2.3 The Strategic Infrastructure Plan for South Australia The Strategic Infrastructure Plan for South Australia (2005) identifies strategic priorities for transport and completion of the link from the Sturt Highway to Outer Harbor as a priority one project. This reflects the South Australian Government’s strong support for the Northern Expressway. The upgrade of Port Wakefield Road to expressway standard is included as part of that link but it is not part of the current project. The Northern Expressway Project will contribute to economic growth in the State and nationally through improved efficiencies for transport, particularly for export, thereby expanding export potential. It will maximise the opportunity for freight transport to gain access to producers, transport hubs, freight gateways and markets, achieve better delivery times and increase cost efficiency to gain a competitive edge, while improving safety significantly. The Northern Expressway and Port Wakefield Road Upgrade will also complement and reinforce the benefits of other strategic infrastructure to support development of the State. It links with two other current major transport infrastructure projects including the upgrading of the South Road corridor, and the Port River Expressway which collectively will provide a continuous freight and commuter route from north to south through Adelaide and improve freight connectivity to Adelaide Airport and the Port of Adelaide. Furthermore, by improving the transport link to the regions north of Adelaide, such as Gawler and the Barossa, fringe rural communities will be more accessible to business, industry, tourists and commuters. 4.2.4 The Planning Strategy for Metropolitan Adelaide The Planning Strategy for Metropolitan Adelaide (2006) refers to the importance of integration of land use and transport planning, ensuring that an effective freight and transport network is facilitated and sensitive uses adjacent to it are planned and managed to minimise safety and health issues from transport activities. The proposed Northern Expressway has the potential to facilitate development as a result of improved accessibility. Local government and the South Australian Government will need to manage this interface given experience elsewhere throughout Australia (and internationally) in response to such new road infrastructure. The Planning Strategy identifies a future freight route between Gawler and Port Wakefield Road. 4.2.5 Planning Strategy for the Outer Metropolitan Adelaide Region The Planning Strategy for the Outer Metropolitan Adelaide Region (2006) provides a framework for development based on principles of ecologically sustainable development and management for the outer metropolitan area. It also provides clear indication of the South Australian Government’s policy direction for the physical development of the Outer Metropolitan Adelaide Region. The strategy identifies the Barossa Valley as a key tourist destination within South Australia and the proposed Northern Expressway, together with the Port Wakefield Road Upgrade, will provide direct linkages from the city to this tourist destination. The strategy also identifies how the major freight roads through the Outer Metropolitan Adelaide Region link the Spencer Gulf cities and Eyre Peninsula to Adelaide. The Northern Expressway will provide direct linkages with the Sturt Highway which is also identified as a primary freight route within South Australia. The strategy supports the construction of the Expressway. 4-4 Northern Expressway Environmental Report The strategy seeks to protect agricultural land and focus urban development within current town boundaries of townships with sufficient infrastructure capacity. 4.2.6 Local Government Association’s Metropolitan Transport Strategy The Local Government Association’s Metropolitan Transport Strategy Contract Report (prepared by the ARRB Group and Tonkin Consulting in August 2005) identified various local roads as having particular importance within the study area. These roads, which are relevant to the Northern Expressway, have been identified based on their particular function: