Greater Adelaide Heavy Vehicle Bypass Back on Table Ahead of Federal Election

By Will Hunter and Elyse Armanini in ABC Riverland
Published on March 31, 2025

A bypass set to divert traffic around the city of Adelaide is back on the table after being funded in the 2025-26 federal budget. The community of Truro, a small town about an hour from Adelaide, remains split about the impact a bypass could have on businesses.

What’s Next?

The South Australian government is currently assessing whether it will match the federal funding. The Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass, which was allocated $525 million by the federal Labor government over 10 years, aims to alleviate congestion on Adelaide's thoroughfares by diverting heavy vehicles.

Project Breakdown

The funding will support:

• A bypass of the Truro township
• Duplication of the Swanport Bridge near Murray Bridge
• Various upgrades along the route from Monarto to the Sturt Highway

Previous commitments included $202 million from the federal and state governments for a Truro bypass in 2021, which was defunded by the federal Labor government in 2023.

Bypass Splits Opinions

The Truro community has been divided over the project. Business owners like James Nagel, who runs the Sunrise Bakery, express concerns that a bypass could hurt local businesses. "It's all common sense, but do we need to kill the town of Truro to achieve this project?" he stated, reflecting on the effect past bypasses have had on similar towns.

Steve Shearer from the SA Road Transport Association supports the bypass as a crucial project but warns that planning is necessary to ensure its effectiveness. Annually, approximately 700,000 trucks use the freeway, with 420,000 potentially diverted onto the bypass, equating to about one truck every minute.

Funding Uncertainty

During senate estimates, federal officials suggested that the HPVN project is expected to be funded equally by federal and state governments, contrary to earlier 80:20 funding splits. Opposition spokesperson Tony Pasin expressed the need for clarity from the state government on its funding commitment: "You can't build half a road, and right now, as welcome as the federal $525 million is, it's only half of what is needed."

SA infrastructure and transport minister Tom Koutsantonis indicated that they are assessing their options for funding, noting that the state budget in June will consider federal announcements on infrastructure.

Public Sentiment

Public advocacy for the bypass has seen success, with local resident Vin Dowd gathering 12,400 signatures for a petition launched in 2023, emphasizing the need for improved infrastructure regardless of political powers post-election.

"We get treated like second-class citizens by metropolitan politicians, and we expect at least a decent road to our capital city," he stated, further arguing that politicians no longer have valid reasons to oppose the bypass.

Federal infrastructure minister Catherine King remarked, "This investment is needed to make our roads safer, our freight networks more resilient, and our transport links better serve communities."

For more information, visit ABC News.

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Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-01/south-australia-freight-bypass-truro-murray-bridge-funded-budget/105113918