


Port Wakefield Overpass & Highway Duplication
Project Overview
The Australian and South Australian Governments have committed $124.5 million for the Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project. The Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project is a joint initiative of the Australian and South Australian Governments and will reduce traffic congestion on two important State Highways and improve road safety on one of the State’s key intersections. Building on work previously undertaken by the South Australian Government, alterations to the previous designs have been made to deliver a safe, economic project that benefits both local residents of the Port Wakefield area as well as the wider South Australian community.
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 100km from Adelaide, offers travellers to the Yorke Peninsula and the northern area of the State one of the few opportunities to stop, refuel and refresh before continuing their journey. The surrounding community also support the numerous local businesses that line the Highway and in turn they support local employment.
- 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. This additional carriageway will give flexibility to allow 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 the Copper Coast Highway to Port Wakefield, and for traffic travelling along the Augusta Highway to the Copper Coast Highway. This will maintain all existing movements at the intersection but greatly improve safety
- The new overpass will remove all hazardous at-grade turn movements at the intersection of the Augusta Highway/Port Wakefield Highway and Copper Coast Highway
- Improved parking, urban design and landscaping within the township to increase the attractiveness for travellers to stop and spend time.
Timeline
Activity | Estimated Date |
---|---|
Early works (preliminary investigations) | Completed |
Site establishment | Completed |
Construction commences | Ongoing |
Final design (excluding urban design aspects) | Completed |
Port Wakefield overpass opening | Mid 2022 |
Port Wakefield town centre works completed | Late 2022 |
Project completed | Late 2022 |
News
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Designs & Artist Impressions
Fast Facts
$124.5M
$124.5 Million Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments
Benefits
Improved safety for all road users
Improved traffic flow during peak travel times
Improved freight productivity
Improved
On street parking
Pedestrian facilities
Landscaping
Materials
72,900m2 of pavement
14,800 tonnes of asphalt
5,800m concrete barriers
342,000m3 of earthworks
2,000m3 concrete
340 tonnes of reinforced concrete
Vehicle Use
16,000 vehicles per day during peak periods – 21% are heavy vehicles