The Australian Government is providing significant funding for the upgrade of the Sturt Highway, between Gawler and Nuriootpa.

This upgrade forms part of the $159.2 million Sturt Highway Upgrade which will improve transport efficiency and safety between Adelaide and the Riverland.

A priority of the upgrade is to improve safety for all road users. The project balances local access needs with the efficiency demands of a major highway forming part of the AusLink National Network.

The department is managing this upgrade, which includes:

• duplication of the highway between Gawler and Seppeltsfield Road to become two lanes in each direction separated by a central median
  
• improvements to the Murray Street and Belvidere Road junctions
  
• extension of the existing overtaking lane adjacent Moppa Road to meet with the Old Kapunda Road junction.
  

Once complete, the Sturt Highway between Gawler and Nuriootpa will:

• improve safety for all road users
  
• maintain access and connectivity for the local community and industry
  
• improve freight efficiency through a more effective connection with port and rail facilities at the Port of Adelaide
  
• reduce delays during peak travel times
  
• improve national and inter-regional connectivity
  
• remain a controlled access road.
  

The department has been engaging landowners, stakeholders and wider community in the planning process and is balancing their needs with the engineering, environmental and social requirements of the upgrade.

The upgrade is being undertaken in stages and is scheduled for completion by December 2009.