Traffic switches mark first use of new, duplicated Augusta Highway sections

Friday, 27 January 2023

Motorists are now able to use the brand-new, duplicated carriageway of the Augusta Highway for the first time, after traffic was diverted onto a newly sealed section to enable works to occur along the existing highway earlier this week.

In a major milestone for the $260 million Augusta Highway Duplication Project, which is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments (80:20), the construction and sealing of a 9.5-kilometre portion of the new dual-lane carriageway between the Port Wakefield Overpass and Beaufort Road is now complete.

Work is also expected to be complete in the coming weeks on another eight-kilometre section of the new carriageway, stretching between Nantawarra Road and Lochiel.

Following the completion of these sealing works, reconstruction work will start on the equivalent sections of the existing dual-lane highway.

To enable these works, both directions of traffic will be diverted onto the newly sealed carriageway sections, with a single lane open in each direction, until late 2023.

The changed traffic arrangements came into effect from 7am Wednesday, 25 January 2023 between the new Port Wakefield Overpass, north of Port Wakefield and Beaufort Road, Beaufort. They will then come into effect between Nantawarra Road, Nantawarra and Moulds Road, Lochiel in the coming weeks.

Work to construct and seal the remaining 10-kilometre section of the new carriageway – from Beaufort Road to Nantawarra Road – is underway and expected to be completed in March 2023.

A significant amount of the reconstruction work on the existing carriageway will be directed at future-proofing this major freight route, with a focus on improving freight productivity and connectivity between regional communities.

The work will include improving several steep climbs along the existing highway, intersection upgrades to tie in with the new carriageway and key drainage improvements.

Road users will notice vegetation clearance and fence realignment works underway in January 2023, with bulk earthworks to follow soon after.

The Augusta Highway Duplication Project is supporting 330 jobs during construction and is expected to be fully completed in 2024.

Once complete, the project will provide motorists with dual, two-lane carriageways, as well as upgraded connecting intersections, along a 28-kilometre stretch of the Augusta Highway between Port Wakefield and Lochiel.

The project is being delivered by Port Wakefield to Port Augusta (PW2PA) Alliance, a consortium of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and GHD, in alliance with the SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport.