Frequently asked questions

The Australian and South Australian governments are delivering the final and most complex section of the North-South Corridor. The 10.5km T2D Project is the most significant infrastructure project ever undertaken in South Australia.

To deliver the project, we will build two sets of twin three-lane tunnels, lowered and ground-level motorways, as well as overpasses and underpasses and upgrades at key intersections.

When complete, more than 50% of the T2D Project will be tunnels.

The T2D Project will complete the North-South Corridor, providing 78km of non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga.

The review was undertaken in response to factors including:

• community feedback on elements of the Reference Design, particularly the visual impacts of elevated structures at Anzac Highway and next to the Brickworks Marketplace
• ongoing technical inputs.

The review was undertaken to ensure the T2D Project leads to the best outcomes for stakeholders and the South Australian community and can realistically be delivered as planned.

The T2D Project will deliver a wide range of social, economic, environmental and safety benefits, not only for Adelaide, but also for South Australia, including:

• allow motorists to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens and Darlington, improving travel times by 30 to 40 minutes during peak hour traffic
• support 5,500 jobs per year during main construction for the next decade, creating a skills legacy for South Australia
• improve safety and travel times between the River Torrens and Darlington, by reducing the amount of stop-start traffic on South Road, resulting in about 200 fewer crashes per year on this section of the road network
• unlock the full potential of the North-South Corridor, completing a 78km non-stop journey between Gawler and Old Noarlunga
• provide urban renewal opportunities for local businesses and residents through new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, green spaces and recreational areas
• reduce traffic congestion by taking around 130,000 weekday trips into tunnels and reduce congestion on surrounding major roads, including Marion Road and Goodwood Road
• preserve important cultural and heritage sites, including Thebarton Theatre and the Queen of Angels Church
• provide better access to travel gateways, including Adelaide Airport, Port Adelaide and the national highway network.

The southern and northern sections of the T2D Project will both include parallel tunnels that have three lanes in each direction.

The Southern Tunnels will run from Clovelly Park to Glandore.

The Northern Tunnels will run from Richmond to Torrensville.

Main construction on the T2D Project is expected to begin in 2025.

The first TBM, to be used to create the Southern Tunnels, is scheduled to start tunnelling in 2026.

From design to construction, the project will support 5,500 jobs on average per year during main construction.

The types of jobs likely to be available on the project include plant operators, concreters, pavers, welders, electricians, pipe fitters, mechanics, engineers, caterers, and health and safety professionals.

The project is expected to:

• inject billions of dollars into the State’s economy
• create a skills legacy for future generations and future mega-projects in South Australia.

The project already is generating significant economic activity in South Australia.

The South Australian Government wants to deliver on its industry participation and jobs policy by maximising both the amount of T2D procurement going to local companies and the number of South Australians working on the project over its lifetime.

We are committed to working with local residents and businesses to successfully complete this transformational project. Our goal is to minimise the impacts to the local community while maximising opportunities for South Australians by creating jobs, connecting communities and enhancing local neighbourhoods.

The project has taken into account feedback from the community on the Reference Design released in November 2021 and that has been incorporated that into the current project design.

During the design process, there are a number of technical assessments that need to be done on a range of key topics such as the environment, construction impacts, traffic management and local connectivity. As this work is completed and information is available, we will further engage with the community on these important elements that we understand are of particular interest.

There will be a range of opportunities to engage with the project team and with a focus on being available to the public. A community information centre has opened at 290 South Road Hilton, with a focus on interactive and digital experience for visitors.

For more information on ways to get involved, or to provide your feedback, visit the What’s On page.

The project is committed to working with businesses to minimise impacts resulting from planning, design and construction activities.

Lessons learned, challenges and business experiences from previous projects are being considered as the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) looks to better engage and support affected businesses to complement existing business support initiatives offered both within the department and across government.

The project is being guided by its own business and stakeholder engagement policies, and by DIT’s Small Business Framework and the recommendations set out in the Small Business Commissioner’s guidelines, Open to Business – Making Roadworks Work.

The T2D Project is committed to supporting business continuity during construction by understanding the operational needs of affected local companies.

A series of surveys will help inform the T2D Project about businesses, their requirements and the needs of their customers.

The information will also be considered when planning the timing and location of major works to minimise impacts to local business as much as practically possible.

Extra support for businesses can be accessed through:

• Office of the Small Business Commissioner provides a range of services and support to SA small businesses
• SA Business Information Hub is a one-stop location for information, tools and templates to support and assist small business through various aspects of starting and running their business in SA, including information on marketing, business planning and advice, risk and financial management, and legal essentials
• business.gov.au provides information, grants, services and support from across government to help businesses succeed.

The 2022 State Government review of the T2D Project found the revised number of properties identified for compulsory acquisition is sufficient to build the motorway as planned and designed.

An options analysis was undertaken and was subsequently endorsed by Infrastructure Australia. As such, the project has a high level of confidence that the properties already identified for compulsory acquisition represent the final footprint of the T2D Project.

You can subscribe to email updates, follow us on social media, visit us at our community information centre, or contact a member of our dedicated team via:

• Email: T2D@sa.gov.au
• Phone: 1300 951 145