Done and dusted! Port Wakefield projects complete

Saturday, 21 January 2023

After proving their worth as a solution to traffic bottlenecks, the Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication have officially opened.

The $124.5 million overpass and newly duplicated Port Wakefield Highway have already proven to make a real difference since traffic was first switched onto the new configuration.

Recent long weekends and school holidays saw traffic flowing smoothly through the town and on towards the Yorke Peninsula and the state’s north.

Work completed includes:

• Two lanes in each direction through Port Wakefield, with allowance for safe U-turns
• A new two-lane overpass for traffic travelling southbound from the Copper Coast Highway to Port Wakefield, and for traffic travelling along the Augusta Highway to the Copper Coast Highway
• The removal of hazardous turns at the intersection of the Port Wakefield, Copper Coast and Augusta highways
• Improved pedestrian access and landscaping in the township of Port Wakefield
• Realignment of the Balaklava Road intersection to allow for safer turns
• New bridges over the Wakefield River

The works have also improved parking through the town to support local businesses. Port Wakefield Highway typically carries nearly 9,000 vehicles per day, however this can almost double during holiday peak periods and on long weekends.

The project has been delivered by the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Alliance, a consortium comprising of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and GHD, in conjunction with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

The project has been jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on an 80:20 basis. Both governments wish to thank the community for their patience and co-operation during construction.

On Saturday, 21 January 2023, the project team hosted a celebration to thank the community for their cooperation and their patience during the construction process.