THE final, seventh, stage of the Murray Street upgrade project has received a further financial boost from the Federal Government.

The $1.78 million project has received a grant of $463,000 under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program to help cover the cost of planned works to Adelaide Road, between the Gawler Mill Inn Bridge and the Southern end of the Seventh Street/Tenth Street intersection.

The grant will further reduce the cost of the project to Gawler Council, which also secured a $854,000 grant though the Australian Government’s Special Local Roads Program, late last year.

Stage 7 is expected to commence in January and will involve road realignment and safety improvements around the intersections of Adelaide Road and Tenth Street and Seventh Street.

It will include cycling lane delineation, improved drainage and stormwater control, improved road and pedestrian lighting, and revitalised landscaping.

According to a council report, the project will increase the available road capacity to cater for 45.5T rated heavy vehicles, in lieu of the current 42.5T – presenting an opportunity to reduce the amount of commercial traffic using the Gawler Heavy Vehicle Route by up to 460 semi-trailer trips a year.

Council commenced upgrades to Murray Street in the 2007/08 financial year and has since delivered six stages incorporating improved drainage, new kerbs, gutters, footpaths, street furniture and landscaping as well as improved pedestrian safety with median crossing points.

The sixth stage saw significant improvements to the Gawler Mill Inn Bridge.

The Murray Street Stage 7 Upgrade is expected to be completed in March, 2021, bringing the total combined cost of the Murray Street Upgrades to an estimated $8.67 million over a 12-year period.