Culvert upgrade caters to heavy vehicles

Thursday, 13 February 2025

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport is upgrading a culvert on the Horrocks Highway, two kilometres north of Rhynie to improve freight productivity and safety.

The upgrade is another step towards this section of the Horrocks Highway being able to accommodate larger heavy vehicles.  

Culverts enable water flow underneath road, preventing flooding, soil erosion and damage to the highway, making safer drives during severe weather events.

Early works began on Thursday 6 February and will operate from Monday to Friday between the hours of 7am to 5pm until early March 2025. Some Saturday work may be required. During this time, a temporary access track will be built at the worksite.  

Following this, major works will begin, and traffic will be reduced to a single lane and diverted around the worksite via the temporary access track. The project is expected to be completed in July 2025.

More than 1800 vehicles travel along this section of highway each day, including 230 heavy vehicles.

The $4 million project will support 15 full time jobs during the construction period. The Australian Government is contributing $3.2 million towards the project under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (formerly the Bridges Renewal Program), with the South Australian Government contributing $800,000.

"This culvert upgrade will help the Horrocks Highway support larger heavy vehicles, making freight transport more efficient and improving safety for all motorists in the region", a Department for Infrastructure and Transport spokesperson said.

"We appreciate the patience of local drivers while these works get underway, and every effort will be made to minimise disruptions."