GAWLER motorists will be able to drive down the Gawler East Link Road from 2pm on Sunday afternoon, ending almost two years of construction works.
The $67.7 million project was opened by Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll and Gawler Mayor Karen Redman on Monday, along with representatives from Gawler East development Springwood and Kaurna elders.
Starting at Potts Road, Evanston, and ending at Calton Road, Gawler East, the 5.5km road has been given a 50km/h speed limit and contains two lanes – one in each direction.
Mr Knoll, who was transport minister at the project’s launch, said his conversations with locals had shown a long history of wanting an eastern bypass for the town.
“This is a project which has been spoken about for a long time,” he said.
“I was actually talking to a gentleman named (Dr) Bruce Eastick who said he was talking about it (a Gawler East bypass road) 40 or 50 years ago
“It’s brilliant that the day is finally here.
“As Gawler grows this piece of infrastructure is extremely important and we know that it’s going to have a positive impact on the community.”
Gawler Council will now take control of the road, with some infrastructure, such as non-essential landscaping, still to be completed due to the project’s tight budget.
Construction started on the road in late-November 2018, and saw half of Potts Road closed for nearly two years.
Upgrades to the Main North Road and Potts Road and Main North Road and Tulloch Road, both at Evanston, were completed to compliment the new road.
One half of the new road will be named after local Aboriginal health advocate Mary “Mullamar” Graham and the other after early Gawler resident and botanist Richard Schomburgk.
Ms Redman said the project was about “investment and jobs”.
“Gawler Council will be taking over this road and we’re very excited to bring people together and look to our future,” she said.
“It’s all about jobs; both for our COVID-19 recovery, but also for the north of Adelaide.
“This part of South Australia is the best place in Australia to live. It has culture, it has people and we’re real and honest.”
More than 16,000 tonnes of asphalt, 2360 cubic metres of concrete and 465 tonnes of precast concrete was used to construct the road, which the State Government said supported 110 jobs during its lifetime.
Transport and infrastructure minister Corey Wingard said the road would create further jobs by supporting further economic growth.
“Building infrastructure to support urban growth within the Gawler region will drive further investment in new residential developments, boosting the local construction industry and creating more jobs locally,” he said.
“This vital road link will also reduce travel times, improve safety and cut the vehicle emissions caused by congestion during peak periods.”