The enabling works have started at the southern end of the project corridor and include the relocation of power cables to help clear the way for T2D鈥檚 Southern Tunnel launch site and staging area. Works to relocate telecommunications services are also under way.
Federal minister for communications, urban infrastructure, cities and the arts Paul Fletcher said the enabling works would help T2D鈥檚 planned main construction to proceed smoothly.
鈥淲hen finished, this project will bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington, with the journey taking on average 8 minutes, saving motorists up to 24 minutes in travel time,鈥� he said.
Major construction of the Southern Tunnels is expected to begin in late 2023, pending relevant approvals, with the entire 10.5km project expected to be completed in 2030.
South Australia鈥檚 minister for infrastructure and transport, Corey Wingard, said getting the utilities work done early will help ensure the Torrens to Darlington main construction, especially the first stage of tunnelling, can start as scheduled in 2023.
鈥淲e know these utility services need to be relocated to make way for the tunnels, so we鈥檙e cracking on with that task now while we continue to finalise the reference design for the project,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淭hese works, which are part of a broader package of enabling-works worth more than $85 million, are supporting 157 jobs and creating employment for more South Australians during the early phases of this important project.
鈥淭his is the biggest road infrastructure project in our state鈥檚 history, and we鈥檙e proud to be getting on with delivering it in consultation with the community and for the benefit of the people of South Australia.
鈥淣ot only will T2D get people from A to B faster, it will also support more than 4,500 jobs and underpin our construction industry for the next decade.鈥�
The latest phase of work follows announcement of the planned southern laydown area in Tonsley-Clovelly Park, from where two tunnel-boring machines will launch to excavate the twin three-lane Southern Tunnels.
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