Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced more than $2 billion from the federal government to complete funding for the North-South Corridor through Adelaide's western and south-western suburbs.
Mr Morrison said the Commonwealth would contribute $2.26 billion to the River Torrens to Anzac Highway section of the $9.9 billion project, on top of a similar amount announced last year for the section between Anzac Highway and Darlington.
"This brings to completion the full financial commitment of the Commonwealth government to this city-shaping infrastructure — the backbone of this wonderful city of Adelaide — which is going to set it up for growth in the future," he said.
The project includes building tunnels from Mile End to Torrensville and from Clovelly Park to Glandore, both avoiding demolishing heritage-listed buildings and splitting neighbourhoods in two.
But hundreds of houses will still need to be acquired to complete the project to create a 78-kilometre freeway from Gawler to Old Noarlunga.
The rest of the funding for the project will come from the state government.
Funding a long time coming
Federal funding for the project was first promised in 2013 by then-prime minister Tony Abbott.
Making South Road a freeway was first mentioned in the Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study from 1968, however, it was abandoned because of the cost and demolitions involved.
Premier Steven Marshall said his government's plan solved some of those issues.
"The last part is the toughest part and I think we are going to deliver with a very innovative solution with the dual tunnels, which will keep that connectivity between those people on the east and those people on the west of this North-South Corridor," he said.
Mr Morrison made the funding announcement today in the state's only marginal seat — Boothby — rather than the safe Labor seat of Adelaide where the money will be spent.
Shadow State Treasurer Stephen Mullighan called for fewer announcements and more work getting underway.
"How many more times will the Liberals reannounce funding for this project instead of actually getting on with delivering it?" he said.
"We know infrastructure projects are a key creator of jobs.
"Yet since the Marshall Liberal government was elected, getting construction started on the final section of the North-South Corridor has come to a standstill."
Construction on the southern part of the project is expected to start next year, with the whole corridor to be complete by 2030.
