Public Works Committee: Bridge Road and Wynn Vale Drive Junction Upgrade

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:38): I move:

That the 89^th report of the committee, relating to the Bridge Road and Wynn Vale Drive Junction Upgrade, be noted.

I do not know if you know where that is, but that is in the northern suburbs. The submission from the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, referred to as the department, will improve road safety through the addition of traffic lights, widening of the road and the addition of a dedicated right-turn lane. The project will also have the added benefit of improving traffic access for local and commercial traffic on Wynn Vale Drive. This $12 million upgrade is the main component of a larger $14.5 million state government commitment to upgrade Wynn Vale Drive.

Bridge Road is an urban arterial road in Adelaide's north-eastern suburbs—indeed, it goes through my electorate—and is under the management of the Commissioner of Highways. Wynn Vale Drive joins Bridge Road at a T-junction roughly 16 kilometres from Adelaide's central business district and is under the management of the City of Salisbury. Annual average daily traffic counts report approximately 51,000 total vehicles entering the junction from Bridge Road, with 24,600 approaching from the north and 26,400 from the south. A further 5,000 vehicles enter the junction from Wynn Vale Drive.

Between 2018 and 2022, there were 15 reported accidents at the junction, with 14 resulting in property damage and one with a minor injury. This upgrade will also address the danger to pedestrians, as presently the nearest pedestrian crossings on Bridge Road are found 650 metres to the north and 500 metres to the south of the junction. These distances are discouraging for pedestrians and increase the temptation to jaywalk near the junction. The upgrade introduces a range of safety improvements, including:

the widening of the south-east side of Bridge Road to accommodate a new dedicated right-turn lane, which will help prevent rear-end collisions from northbound cars waiting to turn onto Wynn Vale Drive and lower the chances of motorists recklessly changing lanes to avoid them;

the introduction of traffic signals to reduce the risk of accidents when entering and exiting Wynn Vale Drive, particularly lowering the chances of right-turn or right-angle collisions, which account for a vast majority of reported accidents;

the introduction of signalled pedestrian crossings to Bridge Road and Wynn Vale Drive to reduce the risk of pedestrians illegally crossing near the junction;

adding a dedicated right-turn lane to Bridge Road 50 metres north of the junction, turning onto Melville Road, which will protect vehicles from rear-end collisions and also streamline traffic approaching the junction;

creating indented bus bays on Bridge Road and Wynn Vale Drive to similarly improve the flow of traffic, allowing buses to peel off the road and not obstruct traffic while loading and off-loading;

a new and upgraded footpath and new paving connecting existing pathways to provide access to the new signalled pedestrian crossings, which will meet Disability Discrimination Act standards;

new road surfacing to improve grip for all motorists and updated line marking to help direct traffic;

a new kerb and guttering to improve drainage and stormwater management, ensuring better road conditions during inclement weather;

the installation of new LED lighting to increase night-time safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians; and

the installation of CCTV for increased general security.

The upgrades are designed to cater for predicted traffic volumes until 2036, and the works are expected to create 45 full-time equivalent jobs over the life of the construction period. The works will require service relocations, and the department is working with SA Water and SA Power Networks to minimise potential community impacts as well as any possible delays to the project delivery. Some vegetation removal will be required, including amenity vegetation and regulated or significant trees. The department will seek appropriate approvals as required, with the exact extent of the removals to be determined during the detailed design phase.

Project design and planning commenced in late 2023, with construction expected to begin in the last quarter of this year and the junction expected to be open to traffic in mid-2025. The delivery of the project is being undertaken through separate design and construction contracts, with private contractors appointed by competitive tender. Construction works will be managed in accordance with department policies, and the department will be responsible for project management in accordance with its project management framework and contract management procedures. The project may also engage external specialists if circumstances require it.

Ongoing risk assessment will be maintained to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are incorporated into both design and delivery. After identifying key risks, the department has formulated the following mitigation strategies:

the development of a community and stakeholder plan to address concerns and an ongoing process to inform the community and stakeholders of project developments;

early engagement of service authorities, including SA Water and SA Power Networks, to minimise construction delays by implementing service relocations in advance of construction;

communicating with stakeholders and the local community in advance of any unavoidable service outages to minimise impacts where possible;

working with the local council to minimise the impact on motorists;

acquiring necessary approvals for the removal of amenity vegetation and regulated or significant trees; and

seeking any other relevant approvals in advance to ensure they are obtained in a timely manner.

The department has undertaken an environmental and heritage impact assessment covering key aspects for road projects, including vegetation, fauna, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage, water quality, noise and vibration, and air quality. Additionally, a sustainable development report has been prepared, providing a summary of the key sustainable aspects, including matters that the project could consider during design. These considerations include the choice of materials and resources to reduce the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, optimisation of recycled materials and water usage, and the inclusion of green infrastructure.

A heritage assessment has determined there are no commonwealth, state or local heritage listed places or items in the vicinity of the project. The project lies within the Kaurna people native title claim area, but it has been determined that native title has been extinguished on the parcels of land affected by the project. The Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects indicates there are no registered or reported Aboriginal sites, objects or ancestral remains within the project area.

A community and stakeholder engagement plan has been prepared, providing an overview of planned communication activities with the relevant stakeholders, including the cities of Salisbury and Tea Tree Gully; the member for Wright, whose electorate this project is within; government departments; Planning and Land Use Services; Aboriginal stakeholders; and surrounding residents. Consultation has followed a two-stage strategy beginning in late 2022, with the first stage engaging the community to understand concerns and potential problems. In June 2023, stage 2 focused on the community response to the project's design, receiving positive feedback from the majority of respondents.

The committee has examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Bridge Road and Wynn Vale Drive junction upgrade. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were: Craig Eckermann, the Delivery Manager, Infrastructure Delivery, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; and Andrew Excell, the Executive Director, Transport Strategy and Planning, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time. I also note the ongoing commitment to this project by the member for Wright, who I know has been a passionate advocate for this upgrade.

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.