South Australia’s emergency responders have tried out the new Gawler East Link Road ahead of its opening in mid-October.
The $67.7 million project, that supported 110 local jobs, is in the final stages of construction.
The 5.5 kilometre upgrade will provide traffic with direct access to Main North Road without the need to travel through the Gawler Town Centre.
As with all new roads, the emergency services are provided with a familiarisation tour to ensure they’re ready and prepared to respond to incidents along a new route.
South Australia Police, the Metropolitan Fire Service and the Country Fire Service have reviewed emergency access to the new South Para Bridge and identified future detour routes, fire hydrant locations, water supplies, vehicle storage locations and turn around points.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said it’s important our frontline emergency services are familiar with the new road ahead of potentially life and death call outs.
“Our emergency services do such a wonderful job responding to all manner of incidents including house and bush fires, car accidents and medical emergencies,” Minister Wingard said.
“It’s important they know where they’re going and how a new road works before they’re deployed.
“As the population in the region continues to grow this new road will also accommodate for future development in Gawler East.
“The Gawler East Link Road will support economic activity and enhance connectivity between current and future developments, commercial and school precincts.
“Ask any local and they’ll tell you it can take around 10 minutes some days to make the trip between Calton Road and Main North Road through the town centre so the new road will cut time off that and make a more reliable run.
“This project forms part of the Marshall Liberal Government’s record $12.9 billion investment in infrastructure over the next four years supporting our local economy and creating thousands of jobs at a time we need it most.”
For more information on the Gawler East Link Road Project, visit www.dit.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/road_projects/gawler_east_link_road
