Heysen Boulevard
The Heysen Boulevard is a key connector road that runs through the entire 1,300 hectares of the growth area in Mount Barker that was rezoned by the State Government in 2010. Only 53% of the road has been constructed and this has occurred in a piecemeal fashion by developers resulting in numerous sections of road that don’t connect. This is inhibiting major retail and commercial development, impacts emergency service response times, puts community safety at risk and is preventing access to public transport.
The Heysen Boulevard is a key connector road that runs through the entire Mount Barker growth area (1,300 hectares) that was rezoned by the State Government in 2010.
Heysen Boulevard is a main arterial road that runs through the entire growth area that will connect residents directly to the freeway and is a designated public transport route.
The land was rezoned by State Government back in 2010 and the road is still only just over half constructed. There are numerous developers and/or landowners across the remaining sections which may be subject to change in the future.
Timing of these sections is unknown as they are subject to each individual developer and/or landowners timelines.
The road construction occurs in piecemeal fashion with each developer of a land parcel constructing their section of the road when they choose to develop their land. As such only about half of the road is finished with a series of no through roads waiting for the next section to be constructed.
Traffic cannot flow through the growth area as intended and is pushed onto local roads that were never intended to carry the loads now being experienced which creates safety issues and delays.
Because Heysen Boulevard is a series of dead ends:
- In times of emergency, response times are slower.
- The growth area is not serviced by public transport.
- A number of retail and commercial centres have not progressed meaning that significant employment creation hasn’t occurred.
State Government to provide cash flow to enable the remainder of the road to be constructed and the cost to be recovered from developers when they develop land that has directly benefitted from the road being constructed to ensure that all developers pay their share.
State Government and Council cost estimates are around $60 – 65 million.
The Council has been proactive is advocating to the State Government to display leadership and resolve the problem by providing cash flow.
Council has undertaken financial and employment generation modelling and provided this to the Premier and successive Transport Ministers.
So far, the State Government has not committed to a solution.
It is difficult to forecast but quite possibly some sections may not be constructed for another 10 or more years.
There are also a number State Government arterial roads requiring improvement and are subject to DIT timing and scheduling.
News
Media Releases
Council Agenda – 4 April 2022, page 65
Includes letter from the then Treasurer and Council briefing note for the then Shadow Treasurer
Heysen Boulevard Connector Road
(Build status as of 21 June 2022)
Click image to enlarge
Heysen Boulevard Level Crossing Design and Construction
What we’re doing
Design of railway level crossing on the Heysen Boulevard to link up the Minters Field and Bluestone development which will provide a connection between Barker and Wellington Roads.
How much it is going to cost
$2,500,000
Timeframes
2022/23 & 2023/24
Background
Negotiations with State Government are completed.
The Progress
28 March 2024
The completed works to date have included the removal of the existing Steam Ranger rail infrastructure, earthworks and excavation activities and the installation of drainage and services.
Steam Ranger services through Mount Barker will return to service shortly concluding the first stage of works on the level crossing.
The level crossing will not be open to traffic. Temporary site fencing will remain in place until the third quarter of 2024.
If you would like to register to receive project updates via email or have any questions, please either:
Email DIT.Engagement@sa.gov.au
Visit www.dit.sa.gov.au/heysenboulevardxing
Call 1300 794 880
January 2024
Progress updates will be reported via the Department for Infrastructure and Transport Website: Heysen Rail Crossing Project
On Monday 8 January 2024, early works will be commencing on the Heysen Boulevard rail crossing project. The early works will include removal of the rail and ballast, installation of underground services for electrical and wastewater together with some general site works and then replacement of the rail. This will all occur over the next few months whilst the Steam Ranger is not operating in Mt Barker.
The construction of the rail signalling and road will occur once design is completed with target date for completion of construction in the second half of 2024.
