JUNE ISSUE 2008NEWS UPDATE

Northern Expressway NEWS UPDATE – JUNE ISSUE 2008 www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au page 1

The Northern Expressway project is delivering work for many local companies as the

construction project upgrades Port Wakefield road in preparation for the new expressway.

inside this issue

Port Wakefield Road upgrade is the first step 3

Finding work for local people 3

The full picture for transport projects in the north 2

More local access with Penfield interchange 2

Overview of the Port Wakefield Road upgrade 3

Counting cars… not as easy as it seems 4

Project timeline 4

Delays and restrictions will happen 4

Council applauds positive land negotiations 4

working close to home local family

To find out more about the Northern Expressway or to have your say:

NEXY Information Line 1300 658 621 or www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au

An example is Angle Vale-based company Cavco Earthmoving. This family-owned business has its heart in the northern suburbs and is playing a major role in civil construction earth works on the Port Wakefield Road project.

Cavco has five people working on the upgrade. Among them are cousins Larry Cavallaro of Munno Para Downs and John Cavallaro of Angle Vale – the ‘hands on’ directors of the company – and their sons Peter, 21 and Matthew, 20.

John Cavallaro said the family was proud to be working on a project that he believes will bring new business and safer road access to the northern area.

“Taking the big transport trucks off those small roads will make our area safer and quieter and if you can save time getting into the city it will make the northern areas an even more attractive

Local seed search will establish one million new plants

will green as it goes

The Northern Expressway project provided financial support for the workshops, and the seed collected by participants has been a valuable addition to the Northern Expressway seed bank. Next year, the seed will be used in the propagation of over one million plants needed for landscaping the expressway corridor.

The Northern Expressway project team thanks Greening Australia and all workshop participants for their involvement in the workshops.

Native seed collection workshop opportunityTo be involved in future seed collection or tree planting activities, please contact the Northern Expressway information line on 1300 658 621 to register your interest.

Finding and collecting millions of tiny seeds from trees native to the northern plains region was the aim of a special project organised by the Northern Expressway team.

With the help of Greening Australia an invitation to take part in a free seed collection training program was extended to local residents who had registered an interest in helping to ‘green’ the expressway. There was an overwhelming response, with two workshops fully booked within days.

Workshop participants were provided with a morning training course entitled ‘How to Identify and Collect Native Seed’ at Gawler TAFE before venturing out into the field for an afternoon of native seed collection with Greening Australia staff.

Seed from a diverse range of tree, shrub, groundcover and aquatic species was collected using the techniques learnt earlier in the day.

“Taking the big transport trucks off those small roads will make our area safer and quieter

and if you can save time getting into the city it will make the northern areas an

even more attractive place to live and

bring up a family.”

contractors enjoy

place to live and bring up a family,” said John.

Larry and John recently worked on the State Government’s Bakewell Bridge underpass project and have developed special skills in drainage and relocation of service piping.

Working under the project manager BMDe*3, the family-owned business has been placing stormwater drainage infrastructure and electrical cable pipes for lighting and traffic signals near the Whitehorse Inn, close to the intersection of Bolivar Road.

Matthew Cavallaro at work on Port Wakefield Road at Bolivar

expressway

Includes new cycle path and interchangesThe Northern Expressway project has reached a significant milestone with the awarding of a ‘Design and Construct’ contract to the Fulton Hogan York Civil Joint Venture.

The contract will deliver several major additions beyond the original plan, at no extra cost.

The project will deliver:

a high-speed flyover interchange directing Port Wakefield Road over the expressway entry, allowing a non-stop journey for both Northern Expressway and Port Wakefield Road travellers

a recreational cycle and pedestrian pathway to create safe inter-community connections

additional ramps at key interchanges along the route to increase local access, north-bound and city-bound, for the local community and local industry.

See Page 2 for details on the new Penfield Road interchange.

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stop press!contract awarded

Expressway team member Jordana Wilson collecting seeds

… over one million plants needed for landscaping the expressway corridor.

living loud! …salisbury stylecommunity updates

The Northern Expressway team and Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure were again represented at the Salisbury Living Loud festival.

This is the showcase community event for the City of Salisbury’s ‘Living City’ calendar where residents from Salisbury and beyond are invited to enjoy an afternoon of Salisbury spirit.

The department’s marquee contained community information about all the major transport projects in the north including the Sturt Highway Upgrade, the Northern Expressway, the new Northern Connector and the Port River Expressway.

Northern Expressway NEWS UPDATE – JUNE ISSUE 2008 www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au page 2

penfield interchange

in the northfor transport projects

the full picture

rAA support for key projects

A feature article in this month’s RAA SAMotor Magazine, discusses the proposed new Northern Connector and a North – South Corridor, the RAA said:

“The RAA also keenly supports the suite of complimentary upgrade projects including the Northern Expressway and the Sturt Highway duplication, because they will create a world class connection to Adelaide’s road, rail and sea freight hubs for transporters operating south and north of the city.”

Sturt Highway Upgrade Nearing completion is the Sturt Highway Upgrade between Gawler and Nuriootpa. When completed it will improve transport connectivity between the Riverland and Adelaide, by making the highway between Gawler and Nuriootpa two lanes in each direction. The new road will be separated by a central median, make improvements to the Murray Street and Belvidere Road junctions and extend the existing overtaking lane adjacent Moppa Road to the Old Kapunda Road junction.

Northern Connector A planning study is underway to determine the feasibility of a proposed road and rail transport corridor for an expressway standard road. This is a separate project to the Northern Expressway and would include a rail transport corridor to Dry Creek linking the Port of Adelaide (via the Port River Expressway) to the Northern Expressway and then the Sturt Highway.

This proposed road connector is being considered in the Northern Expressway project through the development of an improved connection with Port Wakefield Road that allows space for the East-West railway line to enter a new alignment if needed.

The Northern Connector would run to the west of the existing Port Wakefield Road and would allow an unimpeded journey from the Barossa Valley in the North, through to the Port of Adelaide, and the future suburban North-South Corridor.

It would offer increased road safety and better quality of life for suburban communities living adjacent to the national east-west freight rail line and would make other roads safer by diverting freight traffic away from local road networks and residential communities.

The planning study and associated environmental impact assessments are expected to be finished by the end of 2009.

The Northern Expressway project and Port Wakefield road upgrade are part of a much bigger picture of inter-linked transport solutions being planned or being built in the northern regions. Other significant projects include:

For more information visit www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au and follow the links to the New Northern Connector.

The full picture for transport projects

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STUrT HIGHWAY UPGrADE

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POrT WAKEFIELD rOAD UPGrADE

Changes have been made to boost safety and to accommodate future transport and industrial developments at the Port Wakefield road end of the Northern Expressway.

being easily accessible to the State’s highway system and arterial road network by linking north to Port Wakefield and Port Augusta

being located close to existing industry.

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A significant addition is for on-ramps and off-ramps to be constructed at the Penfield Road overpass to allow greater access for local vehicles and to remove larger trucks from local roads.

This is one of a series of changes at the Port Wakefield Road end, following a safety audit of the original route plan and other factors including the Northern Connector planning study and proposed development of a major local industrial facility.

The upgrade to an interchange at the Penfield Road overpass follows input from the local community and submissions from Playford Council and the State Government about a proposed Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal.

The State Government has proposed rezoning a 52-hectare parcel of land to allow the development of this new facility. The site is located on the south side of Pellew Road, between Taylors and Heaslip Roads, opposite the RAAF Edinburgh Airbase (see map).

The development, if approved, would require upgrading several local roads to cope with increased traffic loads.

The intermodal site has numerous advantages by:

laying directly next to the existing standard gauge railway line

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more local access with

Traffic changes on local roads

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Taylors Road Huxtab

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Short Road

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Pellew

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Heaslip Road

Greyhound Road

Mill R

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PROPOSED INTERMODAl

FACIlITy

RAAF BASE EDINBURGH

ALTErNATE ACCESS TO TAYLOrS rOAD FOr SOUTH-bOUND

POrT WAKEFIELD rOAD TrAFFIC

PENFIELD rOAD brIDGE &

ACCESS rAMPS

NOrTHErN EXPrESSWAY ALIGNMENT

Northern Expressway bridges

The proposal says the facility would provide substantial benefit to the South Australian economy by:

improving efficiencies in rail freight transport

providing better access for industry to markets on the eastern and western seaboards

creating an anticipated 200 jobs

providing opportunities for other national and regional distribution centres to be located in the northern Adelaide region.

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In developing the Northern Expressway concept design the project team has sought input from the community and stakeholders.

The design reflects this input where possible and may include further refinements to the expressway as designs are finalised.

Some recent design changes include:

A high-speed, free-flowing exit from the Northern Expressway into Port Wakefield road to replace traffic signals

Traffic signals were originally proposed at this location but the new design will allow traffic from the expressway to merge with traffic on Port Wakefield Road without stopping. The new design reduces the possibility of traffic incidents occurring due to the potential for queuing.

Increasing the separation of the north-bound and south-bound roadways between the bridge over the railway line and Port Wakefield road

This increased distance between the two roadways will accommodate future developments in the area including a new railway line if the new Northern Connector is built. The geometry of this change improves road conditions for north-bound traffic turning into the expressway from Port Wakefield Road.

Changes at Taylors road

Taylors Road will be closed at the main east to west railway crossing. This will simplify the intersection and allow the removal of the level crossing. The project team has been working with the City of Playford to upgrade road and rail traffic safety at this location.

At the Port Wakefield Road junction with Taylors Road, motorists will be able to turn right into Taylors Road and left from Taylors Road into Port Wakefield Road.

It will not be possible to turn left from Port Wakefield Road into Taylors Road given the high-speed and merging of traffic at this location. Two lanes of traffic from the Northern Expressway will be merging with the traffic on Port Wakefield Road and a safe left turn will not be possible. Motorists travelling south on Port Wakefield Road will be able to turn left onto Greyhound Road and use Mill Road to access Taylors Road. The project team will upgrade these roads after a study into current and predicted traffic movements.

Right turns on to Port Wakefield Road from Taylors Road will not be possible. Motorists looking to travel north on Port Wakefield Road from the Taylors Road area will be able to utilise new U-turn facilities on Port Wakefield Road, or by first travelling towards Virginia and then joining Port Wakefield Road via King Road.

other design changes

Northern Expressway NEWS UPDATE – JUNE ISSUE 2008 www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au page 3

Construction and engineering consortium company BMDe*3 was awarded the contract to upgrade Port Wakefield Road and commenced work in February, by setting up a site office at the corner of Bolivar Road.

The consortium is made up of local company e*3, an engineering business operating in the civil, mechanical engineering and building sectors, and BMD, a large Australian company with nationwide construction experience. In South Australia, e*3 have been involved in the Port River Expressway Bridges, Tennis SA precinct, Promethean Theatre, SA Water Treatment Plants and the BHP Billiton Olympic Dam expansion pre-feasibility study.

…designed to meet increased traffic demands once the Northern Expressway is opened, but in the meantime Port Wakefield Road users will enjoy the benefits of improved traffic flows earlier…

Local contractors involved from day one…

A significant 12-kilometre section of Port Wakefield road is being upgraded in preparation for the Northern Expressway Project.

overview of the Port Wakefield Road upgrade

The upgrade to Port Wakefield Road will increase traffic capacity while maintaining local and regional access and improving road safety between Salisbury Highway and the future Northern Expressway junction, just north of Taylors Road.

The works are designed to meet increased traffic demands once the Northern Expressway is opened.

Port Wakefield Road is currently a divided four-lane road and some roadside properties have direct access to the roadway which can disrupt traffic flow and create safety issues. The upgrade works are generally contained within the current road reserve along Port Wakefield Road.

In some locations a narrow strip of land has been acquired to allow the new works.

There will be a reduction of direct property access onto Port Wakefield Road for some properties, with access via newly constructed or upgraded service roads to maintain safety for traffic on Port Wakefield Road. The current 90 km/h speed limit will remain.

Construction commenced in February and the road will be upgraded in sections. During construction changes such as restricted right-turns at some locations may occur on a gradual basis over time. Work will occur through to December 2008.

Construction commenced in

February and the road will

be upgraded in sections.

Work will occur through to

December 2008.

The upgrade will involve:

installing new traffic lights at:

the junction with Ryans Road

the junction with Martins Road

upgrading existing traffic lights at:

Waterloo Corner Road

Bolivar Road

Globe Derby Drive

an additional southbound lane between Ryans Road and Salisbury Highway

an additional northbound lane from Salisbury Highway to the Globe Derby junction

extra U-turn facilities within the median to give flexibility and improved safety for residents

other treatments to Port Wakefield Road to reduce direct

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access, improve safety and maintain reasonable traffic flow.

Roadworks will be undertaken on roads intersecting Port Wakefield Road including:

Globe Derby Drive

Martins Road

Daniel Avenue

Ryan Road

Bolivar Road

Deuter Road

Jobson Road

Summer Road

Angle Vale Crescent

Waterloo Corner Road

Taylors Road.

Minor works will occur on Victoria Drive, Hodgson Road, Burton Road, St Kilda Road, Anjanto Road and Symes Road.

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upgrade is the first stepPort Wakefield Road

Left to Right – Local contractors on the job... Larry Cavallaro of Munno Para Downs, with his son Peter Cavallaro; Matthew Cavallaro, and his father John Cavallaro of Angle Vale.

Their plant operator is Chris Wren, of Mildura, who is staying at Gawler during the contract.

Work underway near Bolivar Road

Local contractors and workers are playing a major part in a major redevelopment of Port Wakefield road as part of the Northern Expressway project.

registration of interestThe Northern Expressway project will generate substantial employment and business opportunities over the course of its construction. Potentially there could be 2,650 jobs created over the life of the project.

To maximise opportunities for local industry to contribute to the construction of the Northern Expressway,

finding work for local peopleexpressions of interest are being sought from businesses in the northern area with capabilities in civil construction and other related fields. This information will be passed onto the successful contractor for consideration.

Assisting the project with skills and supplier management is the Industry Capability Network South Australia (ICNSA) that promotes local industry through import replacement and opportunities for participation

in major projects. The ICNSA performs a technical role, providing purchasers with a free sourcing service to identify local suppliers capable of supplying goods and services to meet their project requirements. For more information on ICN go to www.icnsa.org.au

You can also register your interest through the Northern Expressway website: www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au

The contractor’s work is now well underway widening and resurfacing Port Wakefield Road between Waterloo Corner Road and Salisbury Highway.

Over coming months, Port Wakefield Road will be upgraded at key intersections at the Northern Expressway entry point and Salisbury Highway turn-off. Some service roads will be created and access restricted to improve safety while works are underway.

These works are designed to meet increased traffic demands once the Northern Expressway is opened, but in the meantime Port Wakefield Road users will enjoy the benefits of improved traffic flows earlier, as the upgrade will be ready prior to completion of the expressway.

A new lane for entry to Port Wakefield Road

Northern Expressway NEWS UPDATE – JUNE ISSUE 2008 www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au page �

Further information about the project is available on our website: www.northernexpressway.sa.gov.au or

Email northernexpressway@saugov.sa.gov.au

Information line 1300 658 621

Interpreter information 1300 658 621

Text message (SMS) 1999NEXY

SMS cost is 25c per message of up to 160 characters regardless of carrier.

for more information

1300 658 621.

not as easy as it seemscounting cars…

Major transport projects depend on quality statistics on traffic movements and vehicle numbers before planners begin to design new highways and road intersections. And despite advancements in computing technology, the most efficient way to count vehicles requires a human touch, says traffic counter Tom Lymberopoulos of Modbury.

JUNE 2007

South Australian Government approval of the Northern Expressway route

FEbrUArY 2008

Port Wakefield Road upgrade commenced

APrIL – MAY 2008

Tender Assessment

MAY – JUNE 2008

Contract awarded for the Northern Expressway

AUGUST 2008

Construction begins on the Northern Expressway

DECEMbEr 2010

Project completed

SEPTEMbEr 2007

Formal land acquisition process commenced

WE ARE HERE

Tenders close for the Design and Construct contract for the Northern Expressway

MArCH 2008

Tom says you need a sharp eye and good peripheral vision, a quick eye-hand coordination ability to flick the switches that count the traffic movement – and an ability to work in the outdoors – in any weather.

Tom has been counting vehicles for the past 12 years with the SA-based traffic consultancy company HDS Australia, a local company that began in 1988 as Highway Design Services, but now has offices in Melbourne and an affiliate in Hong Kong.

Their field teams carry out vehicle classification surveys, origin and destination surveys, intersection turning counts, travel time surveys, bicycle surveys and pedestrian surveys.

road user trends that enable road projects to manage traffic movements to the benefit of both road users and residents living in the area.

Patrick said the teams are totally independent and produce the facts on what traffic is doing at an intersection to help traffic planners with their work.

“We often have interruptions from interested local people who always give us advice on local traffic issues and while we hear what they are saying, it’s our job to count the vehicles and to do it accurately,” said Patrick.

Data Services Manager for HDS Australia, Simon Chartier, said the collection and analysis of all types of traffic information was integral to the planning and design of traffic related facilities.

“An important role we play is the picking up of traffic signal sequence

delays that cause traffic build up and that analysis helps the free flow of traffic across the road network,” Simon said.

Traffic data collection and analysis is performed to:

provide a basis for planning and design of traffic facilities

assist traffic operation by indicating the requirements for traffic control devices such as signs, traffic signals, pavement markings and pedestrian crossings

evaluate the effects of road safety measures and other changes made for traffic by conducting “before and after” traffic studies

determine the basic characteristics and general laws of traffic behaviour.

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“An important role we play is the picking up of traffic signal sequence

delays that cause traffic build up and that

analysis helps the free flow of traffic across

the road network.”

Taking a traffic count at the intersection of St Kilda Road and Port Wakefield Road in April, are Tom Lymberopoulos and his counting partner Patrick Teti.

“Some people can handle the concentration, but others give it up in a week, but I enjoy being outdoors and being my own boss out in the field,” said Tom.

“Good concentration and good coffee is a great combination,” said counting partner Patrick Teti of Dernancourt, who had brought a portable coffee percolator to their counting site at the intersection of St Kilda Road and Port Wakefield Road.

Information from these traffic counts is used by Traffic Planners to identify

project timeline

had been positive and were carried out with a desire to achieve the best result for all parties.

“We had our occasional sticking points, but always managed to work through the issues and arrive at positive and satisfactory results,” Mr Hornsey said.

Project Director, Luigi Rossi said work would begin soon to redevelop the

The Light regional Council has confirmed that negotiations with the Adelaide Soaring Club and the Gawler Harness racing Club about land transfers, to allow room for the Northern Expressway, have reached a satisfactory resolution.

Adelaide Soaring Club’s existing runways to remove potholes, uneven surfaces and weeds prior to laying new bitumen.

Other works would include:

construction of a six metre wide taxiway parallel to the runway

building access roads from Ward Belts Road to the airfield main office

redevelopment of private and club-owned hangars that are currently used to house gliders, powered aeroplanes and aircraft maintenance equipment.

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council applauds positive land negotiations

This means that modifications to existing aircraft runways and the removal of the racecourse to allow a safe road entry at the existing Gawler Bypass can proceed when the project begins.

The Mayor of Light Regional Council, Mr Robert Hornsey, said negotiations with the Northern Expressway team

Speed restrictions and lane closures should be expected. These will allow safe construction of road works and other activities such as drainage works, street lighting, traffic signals and traffic barrier construction.

Some works will be undertaken at night to minimise disruptions to daytime traffic. Night shifts will generally occur between 6.30 pm and 6.00 am from Sundays through to Thursdays.

The department is working closely with the construction contractors to minimise inconvenience and disruptions to the local community and commuters while works are underway.

delays and restrictions will happen – but should be minimal

The Port Wakefield road upgrade may cause some inconvenience or delays and the patience of the local community and road users is appreciated.