Artist’s impression – the Northern Connector with Port Wakefield Road passing over.

We need your “local knowledge”

We are now at the stage where the project team wants to establish links with the directly affected community, to ensure that local voices will be heard.

We want feedback and information from any local community and people who have special local needs or can make observations that will help project planners.

We are asking for community members and interested parties to complete a project feedback form. This information will be used to help inform the planning study. 

Transport planning – beyond the next decade

A comprehensive planning study has commenced to investigate a vital part of South Australia’s transport needs into the next decade and beyond.

It will determine the options of a proposed road and rail Northern Connector travelling from the Port Wakefield Road interchange with the Northern Expressway to the Port River Expressway and South Road via Salisbury Highway.

This proposed route would be a strategic investment joining these major transport routes in a way that creates maximum economic and social value for South Australia.

The road would eventually allow a largely unimpeded journey from Port Wakefield, the mid North, the Barossa Valley and the Riverland to the Port of Adelaide and the future North – South corridor.

Click on image to enlarge

A new road and rail connector in the North

The new Northern Connector would run to the west of the existing Port Wakefield Road.

This innovative combination of road and rail services within one corridor would deliver clear benefits to the local community, to industry, everyday commuters and the national transport network.

It would provide a long term strategic link between the Northern Expressway and the Port of Adelaide and improve the safety and efficiency of the state and national transport network.

This new road/rail corridor would reduce congestion on the existing Port Wakefield Road by providing an expressway standard road from the Port of Adelaide to regional destinations east and north of Adelaide. For example, a 70 kilometre trip from the Barossa Valley to the Port of Adelaide would include 47 kilometres of expressway standard road with very few interruptions created by traffic lights.

Local communities living alongside the existing Port Wakefield Road would benefit from better management of traffic volumes. This would assist the development of business precincts in this growing region, while still maintaining direct links to high quality transport infrastructure and services.

It also offers increased road safety and better quality of life for communities living adjacent to the national east-west freight rail line.

A critical step in investigating the feasibility of the Northern Connector is the completion of a planning study. This planning study will reveal how the Northern Connector contributes to the objectives of the Australian Government’s Land Transport Investment Program.

In the broader context, the planning study should be seen as part of an overall review of a north to south Adelaide transport strategy – moving closer to achieving smoother and faster connections for people travelling via the upgraded Sturt Highway to South Road and ultimately along a future North - South corridor towards Darlington and the Southern Expressway.

The area to the west of Port Wakefield Road was identified as a preferred study area, primarily due to significant development and residential areas located on the eastern side. On the western side development is generally less dense, comprising a mix of agricultural, horticultural, recreational, residential and industrial land uses.

A project of national and state importance

The Australian Government, under its Land Transport Investment Program, provides funding for transport links of national importance. These initiatives will contribute to a key objective of assisting local and national economic and social development through improvements to the safety, efficiency and reliability of the national transport network. Importantly, the Northern Connector will assist in achieving these objectives from both a rail and road perspective.

The Australian Government’s Land Transport Investment Program is based on the concepts of better long-term planning and encouragement of the best ideas and solutions. It aims to target investment to achieve the best outcomes for people, the national economy, regions and communities.

The South Australian Government is committed to a long term approach to planning our transport infrastructure. The Northern Connector is a prime example as it is high on the priorities of the State Infrastructure Plan, Adelaide Urban Corridor Strategy and will also contribute towards the following targets in South Australia’s Strategic Plan:

• promoting economic growth
• expanding export potential for the State
• providing strategic infrastructure
• providing infrastructure to support communities in regions.

The 2008 Port Wakefield Road Upgrade

The current upgrade of Port Wakefield Road is designed to cater for the increased traffic volumes that are occurring as a result of rapid developments in the north of Adelaide. Traffic modelling has shown that increased traffic volumes on Port Wakefield Road after 2016 could:

• significantly increase the noise levels for residents and businesses
• impact on the surrounding traffic network
• affect accessibility for communities on the western side of Port Wakefield Road.

The upgraded Port Wakefield Road will continue to provide the arterial link to the city from adjacent suburbs while traffic from further afield could be redirected onto the new Northern Connector.