Public Works Committee: Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive Intersection Upgrade

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:27): I move:

That the 64^th report of the committee, entitled Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive Intersection Upgrade, be noted.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) proposes to upgrade the intersection of Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive. This intersection is part of the strategic gateway to the Adelaide Airport and is used by nearly 60,000 vehicles per day. It currently operates at capacity during peak periods, with delays for both north-south and east-west traffic.

The project aims to reduce congestion and improve road safety for users, as well as cater for future traffic growth. An Adelaide Airport master plan envisaged a significant growth in passenger and freight movement, with the potential to cause congestion. This project seeks to alleviate this issue and, additionally, will assist in managing the anticipated increased traffic demand during the construction of the north-south corridor River Torrens to Darlington project.

The intersection upgrade is part of a commitment by the department to continually develop and upgrade key arterial roads. As such, this project aims to improve efficiency by reducing delays for commuters on Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive, including the enhancement of public transport reliability.

Additionally, access and reliability for freight and supply chains to Adelaide Airport will be improved and an enhancement of the sense of place will be achieved through stronger integration of pedestrian and cycling movements within the local area. The project will also improve tree canopy as part of the state's urban greening strategy. The intersection upgrade will include:

an additional right-turn lane on Sir Donald Bradman Drive's western approach to allow two separate right-turn and through lanes respectively;

an extension of the left-turn lane on Marion Road's southern approach to improve left-turn movement onto Sir Donald Bradman Drive towards the Adelaide Airport;

an additional through lane on Sir Donald Bradman Drive's eastern approach for westbound traffic, resulting in three through lanes;

an additional turn lane on Sir Donald Bradman Drive's eastern approach for traffic turning right to head north along Marion Road, resulting in two right-turn lanes;

installation of a new left-turn lane on Marion Road's northern approach for traffic turning left towards the city;

replacement of the koala crossing on Marion Road near Jenkins Street with a signalised crossing, which will assist the safe crossing of children attending Cowandilla Primary School;

upgraded pedestrian crossings, traffic signals and road lighting throughout the intersection to improve visibility and safety;

installation of bicycle lanes in each direction on Sir Donald Bradman Drive to provide continuous cycling lanes and improved safety through the intersection, as well as green cycle pavement marking through key areas of conflict between cycling lanes and general traffic on all intersection approaches and exits; and

tree planting and landscaping to maintain the gateway amenity to the CBD.

The capital cost of the project is $85 million and will be jointly funded by the South Australian and commonwealth governments on a fifty-fifty basis. Planning and preconstruction work is currently being completed, with construction set to commence in the middle of this year. The department states that the project will be open to traffic in early 2026. The upgrade will require the acquisition of a small number of commercial and privately owned properties, with this acquisition process underway.

DIT states that the project will follow its program and project management framework and guidelines in conjunction with contract management procedures. Additional external specialist resources may be employed if necessary. Risk management will form an integral part of the management process to identify and assess risk, ensuring that appropriate management measures are used in the project delivery.

Potential risks have been mitigated through a range of measures, including continued engagement with the community to ease concerns about the upgrade, engagement with affected landowners to secure necessary land through land acquisition; engagement with stakeholders and service authorities to lessen delays with approvals and construction; information provided to affected properties ahead of potential disruptions of power or telecommunication services; and timing of construction to minimise disruption to traffic.

The project's environmental impact will be assessed and managed in line with the department's environment and heritage impact assessment processes and guidelines. An assessment has been conducted covering key environmental and heritage aspects of the projects, including vegetation, fauna, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage, water quality, noise and vibration, air quality and contamination. Ecologically sustainable development measures are being applied to the project, including optimisation of design to reduce the project's footprint, use of recycled materials where possible to increase sustainability, and an intent to deliver at least 20 per cent canopy coverage to increase green infrastructure.

The project area is within the Kaurna people's native title determination area, and native title is considered to have been extinguished on the land within the project area. A check of the Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects determined that there are no registered or reported Aboriginal sites, objects or ancestral remains on site.

The project will have no direct impact upon commonwealth, state or local heritage-listed places. The Brooklyn Park Boulevard of Honour, which runs along Sir Donald Bradman Drive, has been identified. This consists of trees with memorial plaques for those from the City of West Torrens who enlisted during the Second World War and commemorates 50 years since the end of the war. A number of these trees and plaques will require removal, with relocation being proposed for the plaques and new trees planted.

An extensive stakeholder and community engagement strategy guide has been developed, and the department confirms that extensive consultation and engagement with stakeholders and the wider community has occurred and is ongoing. This includes community consultation, surveys and information sessions, alongside email and letterbox drops to over 870 stakeholders and reaching over 30,000 people via social media.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Marion Road and Sir Donald Bradman Drive intersection upgrade. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Andrew Excell, Executive Director, Transport Strategy and Planning, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, and Neil Welsh, Delivery Manager, Infrastructure Delivery, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time. Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Motion carried.