The Australian and South Australian governments have committed $124.5 million ($99.6 million from the Australia Government and $24.9 million from the South Australian Government) to the project. The Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project is reducing traffic congestion on two important state highways and improving road safety.

Port Wakefield Highway typically carries nearly 9,000 vehicles per day through the town of Port Wakefield, however, this can double during holiday periods. The town, located approximately 100 kilometres from Adelaide, offers travellers to the Yorke Peninsula and the northern area of the state an opportunity to stop, refuel and refresh before continuing their journey. The surrounding community supports the numerous local businesses that line the highway and, in turn, supports local employment.

The final project design was built on the previous concept designs developed by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, released in August 2018 and revised in January 2019, September 2019 and November 2019, following feedback from the community and local stakeholders. It made further improvements based on feedback from stakeholders and the wider community to give the best possible outcome and a cost-effective solution.

The evolution of the concept design included:

• two lanes in each direction through the Port Wakefield township with provisions for safe U-turn movements;
• a two-lane carriageway for northbound vehicles through the Port Wakefield township, allowing for increased parking and landscaping opportunities, as well as safer vehicle and pedestrian movements;
• a second two-lane carriageway for southbound vehicles running behind the service stations, allowing for greater flexibility for traffic to run in both directions on one other carriageway in the event of an incident;
• a realigned Balaklava Road intersection with the new southbound Port Wakefield Highway, allowing for safer turn movements for the large vehicles that often use Balaklava Road;
• a new bridge and a replacement of the existing bridge across the Wakefield River;
• a new two-lane overpass for traffic travelling southbound from Copper Coast Highway to Port Wakefield and for traffic travelling along Augusta Highway to Copper Coast Highway, maintaining all existing movements at the intersection but greatly improving safety; and
• improved parking, urban design and landscaping within the township to increase the attractiveness for travellers to stop and spend time.

Project works completed to date include:

• duplication of the highway before and after the township;
• two lanes in each direction through Port Wakefield, with allowance for safe U-turns;
• a new two-lane overpass for traffic travelling southbound from the Copper Coast Highway to Port Wakefield, and for traffic travelling along the Augusta Highway to the Copper Coast Highway. The Port Wakefield Overpass opened to traffic three months ahead of schedule and just in time for the December 2021 holiday season.
• the removal of hazardous turns at the intersection of the Port Wakefield, Copper Coast Highway and Augusta Highway;
• improved pedestrian access and landscaping in the township of Port Wakefield;
• realignment of the Balaklava Road intersection to allow for safer turns; and
• new bridges over the Wakefield River.

Some intermittent lane and speed restrictions will continue to be required for finishing works, ahead of the project’s full completion in 2024. 

Taken together, these improvements provide a safer road environment for all users of these key routes in regional South Australia. 

As part of the delivery of urban design elements and artworks for the project, the Alliance has been collaborating with Aboriginal stakeholder groups, Wakefield Regional Council and other key stakeholders in the design and implementation of cultural elements to strengthen local identity, cultural respect and interpretation of place. 

The project supported approximately 95 full-time equivalent jobs per year during the construction period.

Additional project information can be found on the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s website: Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication – Department for Infrastructure and Transport – South Australia (dit.sa.gov.au)