The State Liberals have pledged a $12.1 million investment to end traffic bottlenecks and reduce road accidents at the notorious Copper Coast Highway and Augusta Highway intersection north of Port Wakefield.
The State Liberals’ plan will see a single lane overpass constructed at the Copper Coast Highway and Augusta Highway intersection complemented by the re-routing of access roads at the intersection.
The overpass will take the Copper Coast Highway over the Augusta Highway providing better access to Port Wakefield Road for people travelling south from Yorke Peninsula as the first stage of a long term ambition to upgrade arterial roads to the Yorke Peninsula and Mid North.
“Yorke Peninsula is one of Adelaide’s favourite holiday destinations but too often the experience is marred by massive wait times as traffic banks up from the junction of the Copper Coast Highway and the Augusta Highway,” said State Liberal Leader Steven Marshall.
“On a normal day the intersection is used by about 3,000 vehicles but during holiday weekends this soars to as many as 10,000 creating jams as long as 10 kilometres as vehicles travelling from Yorke Peninsula attempt to merge with traffic travelling south.
“For holiday makers there are few experiences more frustrating than inching along the Copper Coast Highway with hungry kids in the car at the end of a sweltering long weekend.
“For Yorke Peninsula locals the frustration at the problems with the intersection can be an everyday fact of life. “This investment will boost the local economy of Yorke Peninsula by attracting more visitors and improving the freight route to market for farmers’ produce.
“The Copper Coast Highway and Augusta Highway intersection is so dangerous that locals call it crash corner as a result of its history of accidents resulting in fatal or serious injury.
“Reducing the delays and accidents that plague this section of the National Highway will bring economic benefits to both the Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North of South Australia.”
Liberal Candidate for Narungga Fraser Ellis said the commitment highlighted why it is critical that a Marshall Government is elected at the March state election.