North-South Corridor road project cost blows out to $15.4 billion with 524 properties to go - ABC News Patrick Martin and Rory McClaren 14 Dec 2022
The state government has provided visuals of the updated plans for the North-South Corridor project
The cost of South Australia's biggest infrastructure project has blown out by billions of dollars, with more properties to be acquired to make it happen.
Key points:
· An additional 125 properties will now be acquired, taking the total to 524
· The previous concept of two tunnels remains part of the new plan
· But on-off ramps have been added and moved
The state government has revealed the North-South Corridor upgrade will cost an estimated $15.4 billion — significantly more than the $9.9 billion budgeted by the former government — and will require the partial or full acquisition of 524 properties - (56% increase).
The Liberal government said 393 properties would go when it originally unveiled its plans.
A review of the project was initiated by the Labor government after taking office, amid concerns about safety and design elements as well as its budget.
That review found the former plans would have cost $14.3 billion.
The new plans released today include network upgrade works that the government said were not included initially, but were required for the new road to work effectively during construction and once it is complete.
Twin tunnels previously announced remain as part of the updated project plans, but more entry and exit points will be built in.
The entrance to the southern tunnel has moved 300 metres toward Daws Road to "improve safety and connection" with the Darlington upgrade.
New concept designs released by the government for the North-South Corridor shows a tunnel entry near the Brickworks Marketplace
The move shortens the tunnel, which the government said would reduce the overall cost of the project.
Elevated off-ramps at Anzac Highway and near the Brickworks Markets at Torrensville have been scrapped.
Instead, a "low-height structure" over the corner of Hindmarsh Cemetery will be constructed, which the government said will result in less of Kings Reserve being required during construction.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the final 10.5-kilometre section of the North-South corridor was "the most substantial infrastructure project in the history of South Australia".
"At the core of every decision we have made on this project is thinking about the long-term implications for the state," he said.
He said it was "a tough decision" to demolish an additional 125 properties.
"Notwithstanding that, I'm also conscious of the fact that sometimes 'no pain, no gain'," he said.
"We acknowledge the pain that this imposes on individuals when they lose their homes and that's why we have to deal with them empathetically."
Residents already preparing for eviction
Artland Picture Framers and Art Supplies at Clovelly Park will be acquired as part of the North-South Corridor project
Artland Picture Framers and Art Supplies has been at its Clovelly Park location for 48 years but will now be acquired by the government to make way for the new project.
Owner Andrew Kelly said he thought he had been "saved" under the previous plan by a "margin of the road" — but not under the redesign.
"It was one of those heart-dropping moments when you thought you'd been safe and lucky and then all of a sudden the game changes," he said.
He said after the government announced its review of the previous plan, and as time went on, he started to notice nearby properties "empty out".
"It became a bit more crystallised, but in the back of your mind, you always thought, 'what if?'," he said.
"It was still over the weekend that the news sank in – it wasn't a good feeling. But they have been up-front about all the information."
Mr Kelly said he hoped to find a new location that would suit his business.
Dianne Turner is one of the hundreds of residents now facing eviction as a result of the road project
Clovelly Park resident Dianne Turner, 74, said she was "shocked" to receive a letter late last week to inform her the government would also be acquiring her home of 42 years.
"I would have preferred a Christmas card instead," she said.
She said she had already started packing and would now embark on looking for a new place to live.
Opposition infrastructure spokesman Vincent Tarzia criticised the government for delaying the release of the new plan until just before Christmas, and called on it to provide details of how the extra funding would be secured.
He described the cost blowout as "shocking" and complained about the new acquisitions.
"We minimised the impact on people's properties — on people's homes, on people's businesses," he said.
"But what we see is an announced design just before Christmas, not in a parliamentary sitting week where we can scrutinise the design and unfortunately, callously, people have been informed that they're being kicked out of their homes or being kicked out of their businesses right before Christmas."
But the Premier said the government was determined to avoid "making the mistakes" of the design put forward by the previous administration.
"If we're spending this volume of money then we do it in such a way that makes a material difference – not just for users of the North-South corridor but for the whole traffic network," Mr Malinauskas said.
Exit ramps to shave time off commute
The design includes more exit ramps near the intersection of James Congdon Drive and Deacon Avenue, giving motorists access to Richmond Road.
The government said the ramps would result in better travel times for drivers heading south toward Adelaide Airport or the western suburbs because they would not need to go through the Anzac Highway intersection.
This concept design shows how traffic will flow through the River Torrens to Darlington section of the North-South Corridor
It said that, once the project is complete, travelling the 15 kilometres between Darlington and West Hindmarsh would take nine minutes.
The government also updated the expected time it would take to build the corridor.
The tunnels are now to be built sequentially rather than at the same time, "in a more realistic approach to project timing and market capacity".
Main constructions works are set to begin in 2025, with tunnel-boring to begin in 2026. It is expected the project will be complete in 2031.
The state government said it would work with the Commonwealth toward a 50-50 split of the project.
Why would the Federal Govt commit to a highly cost ineffective pork barrelled project?
Under the current plan, the state government said it would tip in $700 million a year on average over the next decade.
$700 mil x 10 years = $7 bil which is $7.3 bil shy of the recent projected cost?