Over $200 million worth of rail infrastructure projects from the South Australian government’s 2017-18 budget have been submitted for consideration by the Parliamentary Public Works Committee.
The projects include the $31.4 million relocation of Adelaide metropolitan rail Operations Control Centre from its existing premises near SAMHRI to Dry Creek, the $16.4 million Port Adelaide rail spur, and the $174.3 million Oaklands Crossing.
“South Australia is experiencing a once-in-a-generation infrastructure boom as we deliver the rail, roads, schools and hospitals our state needs,” transport and infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said.
The minister also stressed that the investments would open-up job opportunities for South Australians and support local businesses.
“By setting strict requirements for local content, and putting more apprentices and trainees into work, we’re making sure South Australians reap the benefits of our investments,” he said.
The Port Adelaide rail spur project will reinstate train service to the centre of Port Adelaide for the first time in almost 30 years, linking the Port’s commercial centre and the Dock One residential precinct to the Adelaide CBD.
“It’s exciting to see our plans coming along for returning train services to Port Adelaide for the first time in almost 30 years,” Labor Member for Port Adelaide Susan Close said.
“This is a significant project in the ongoing renewal of Port Adelaide and with more and more people choosing to live and work here it’s important they have access to fast and reliable public transport.”
The Port Dock Railway Line Project will see the construction of new dual mainline connections from the Outer Harbor Line to the Port Spur, as well as track upgrades and the building of supporting infrastructure on the spur line.
A new Port Adelaide Railway Station is also to be built as part of the project, while a new railway signalling system to control the junction and spur line is to be installed.
The relocation of the Adelaide metropolitan rail operations control centre to the Dry Creek depot means that the existing North Terrace centre will be demolished and the site made available for the development of a new medical research facility.
Under the Oaklands Crossing Grade Separation Project, the rail line will be constructed under Morphett Road, along with modifications to road junctions along Morphett Road and Diagonal Road located either side of the rail crossing.
“The Oaklands Crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the southern suburbs and everyone who travels through the area, whether it’s to access local shops and businesses or the aquatic centre, school or medical facilities knows how much of a difference the underpass will make,” Labor Member for Elder Annabel Digance said.
A new 160-metres-long Oaklands Park Railway Station is also to be built that to cater for longer trains and to support the passenger growth on the Seaford line, while on Morphett Road a grade separation of the Marino Rocks Greenway pedestrian and cycling shared use path will be carried out.
“I have long campaigned for this upgrade and it is great to reach another milestone in the project which will have a big impact on the lives of local residents,” Digance said.