Regional motorists can look forward to smoother and safer road journeys from now on with maintenance and improvement fixing around 4,800 kilometres of the State’s roads.
Welcoming the achievement which cost the single largest injection of new funding for regional roads in South Australia’s history, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Corey Wingard said the distance fixed was the same distance as driving from Adelaide to Brisbane and back, and then to Melbourne.
Mr Wingard said the Government had invested $2.8 billion in road and marine infrastructure, the largest amount in the State’s history, which also supported more than 5,300 jobs.
He said the 2021-22 State Budget had allocated around $790 million for regional road projects, including funding for the Augusta Highway Duplication, the Truro Bypass and various road upgrades on Kangaroo Island.
Mr Wingard said this was on top of the 2020-21 State Budget, which allocated around $908 million for infrastructure upgrades including roads, bridges and marine works, and the $1.1 billion in the 2019-20 State Budget for regional infrastructure – taking the total to $2.8 billion over the forward estimates.
The Minister said regional infrastructure projects featured in the 2020-21 State Budget included the Fleurieu Connections Improvements Package; road infrastructure/shovel ready projects; Hahndorf Traffic Improvements; Strzelecki Track sealing; Port Bonython Jetty upgrade; and the South Eastern Freeway pavement upgrade.
“Regions form the backbone of our economy and contribute around $28 billion into South Australia’s coffers every year,” he said.
“We’re investing record amounts in our regions to fix country roads, help save lives and improve business productivity,” Mr Wingard said.
