Builder announced for $120m Majors Road Interchange Project

South Australia’s $120 million Majors Road Interchange Project has reached a new milestone, gearing it up towards the beginning of construction. 

Acciona Construction Australia has been awarded the contract to design and build the jointly funded project that involves the construction of on/off ramps for the Southern Expressway. 

“The contract award is the next critical step in delivering this project, which will benefit drivers of the more than 13,000 vehicles who use Majors Road each day, a number that is expected to grow with the easier access to sports facilities and Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta. 

“The project will also benefit the 74,000 vehicles using the Southern Expressway between Darlington and the Reynella Interchange each day,” Federal Member for Kingston Amanda Rishworth said. 

The Majors Road Interchange Project will include: 

• New on and off ramps in both directions to the Southern Expressway, largely confined to the existing road corridor 
• Widening of the Majors Road bridge to accommodate two through lanes and a dedicated right turn lane, onto the Southern Expressway, in each direction 
• Signalised intersection to improve access to Majors Road from Adams Road with increased safety and efficiency 
• New dedicated bike lane on the northern side of Majors Road and new Shared User Path on the southern side of Majors Road through the Interchange 
• New underpasses installed, ensuring continued access and use of the Patrick Jonker Veloway 
• New and upgraded traffic signals, road lighting and drainage 

“Taking traffic off Brighton Road will be of huge benefit to residents in Boothby’s coastal suburbs, and I join with my colleagues in congratulating Acciona for securing the contract to deliver this project,” Federal Member for Boothby Louise Miller-Frost said. 

“It’s so pleasing to see this taking shape, especially the careful work going into ensuring this development doesn’t just minimise environmental impact but leaves a lasting and positive conservation legacy,” State Member for Davenport Erin Thompson said. 

Concept design of Majors Road Interchange Project (source: SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport)

The project will also deliver a new home for the Adelaide southern suburbs environmental group Friends of Glenthorne to support its conservation and re-vegetation activities. The project team has worked closely with the local volunteer group to help improve environmental outcomes for Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta during and after the construction of the Majors Road interchange. 

A new plant nursery and garden area have been funded and will be built as a result of this collaboration with Friends of Glenthorne. The nursery will help vegetation offset requirements for the project while supporting the Friends of Glenthorne’s conservation and re-vegetation activities into the future. 

The new nursery is going to be built within the premises of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) SA, adjacent the Majors Road Interchange Project’s site facilities. 

Friends of Glenthorne will be operating and maintaining the nursery – which will be completed by early 2024 – in collaboration with RDA SA. 

“While the current project design of the Majors Road Interchange ensures no impact to significant vegetation and minimal impact to the Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta as a whole, we are working to give back to the environment. 

“The Friends of Glenthorne do fantastic volunteer work to project the Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, and this plant nursery will empower them to do more great work, while helping the project to offset its environmental impacts. 

“This is a great example of how major infrastructure projects can take a collaborative approach to improve outcomes for local communities and the environment,” SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis said. 

Major construction on the Majors Road Interchange Project is anticipated to commence in the last quarter of this year and be completed by the end of 2025. The project is expected to support up to 245 full-time-equivalent jobs annually during its construction phase. 

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian Governments on a 50:50 basis. 

“The Australian Government is jointly funding the Majors Road Interchange Project to ensure smoother and safer traffic flow. 

“This project will provide commuters in Adelaide’s southern suburbs with better access to the Southern Expressway, while providing all commuters improved access to Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, the Sam Willoughby International BMX Facility and the Southern Soccer Facility from the Southern Expressway,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Government of South Australia – Department for Infrastructure and Transport; The National Tribune