BUSINESS owners are rejoicing at the completed sealing of Lyndoch Road, claiming it will bring an increase in patronage to Gomersal wineries and the southern Barossa, as well as improve road-user safety.
The $1.65 million project includes 4.5km of bitumised roadway, stretching south from Gomersal Road, the alignment of the Lyndoch and Hentschke Roads junction, and various road hazard improvements.
Southern Barossa Alliance chair Simon Taylor said it’s hoped the sealed road will help increase visitor numbers to Williamstown and Lyndoch.
“Originally Lyndoch was the gateway to the Barossa, but once Gomersal Road went in… the income in the Southern Barossa went down by 30 per cent,” he said.
“So this now provides an alternative way for people to get into the Barossa.”
Gomersal Winery owner Barry White said he has been pushing for the road to be sealed for years, to improve safety, reduce dust and increase business patronage.
“Wedding cars wouldn’t come down, and tourists that hired cars weren’t allowed to go on dirt roads, so wouldn’t come,” he said.
“So, now there are no excuses;
“(The sealing) really is a blessing and importantly it is safe.”
The project was funded with $500,000 from the State Government, a $900,000 Federal Government Special Local Roads Program grant, and a $250,000 Light Regional Council contribution.
Member for Schubert Stephan Knoll said the project delivered on one of his election promises and would hopefully help centralise the distribution of tourists to the Barossa.
The road has also been strengthened to accommodate heavy vehicles up to a level 2A Performance Based Standard (PBS).