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$160 million O-Bahn project

The South Australia Government has released a proposal for a $160 million bus tunnel

The South Australia Government has released a revised $160 million proposal for a guided bus tunnel from Hackney Road to the city.

The proposal will provide quicker, more reliable access for O-Bahn buses into the city and will reduce congestion on Adelaide’s Inner City Ring Route.

The project will also dramatically transform the city’s East End and provide opportunities to enhance the East Parklands.

The plan includes a 500-metre bus tunnel from Hackney Road to a changed Rundle Road providing a quicker and more reliable service for Adelaide’s most patronised public transport service.

Premier Jay Weatherill says the project represents another important investment in the state’s public transport network.

“We know we need to get more people on to public transport and convince them to leave their cars at home to reduce congestion and carbon emissions in and around our city,” he says.

“Along with the city tram extensions and the Seaford line electrification, this project will contribute to ongoing growth in public transport patronage into the future.”

The improved plan will have numerous benefits including better travel times for O-Bahn bus passengers, increased capacity and reduced congestion on Adelaide’s Inner City Ring Route and will create about 450 jobs during construction.

Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan says more than 31,000 people use the O-Bahn on working days making it the most popular public transport network in Adelaide.

“Each year commuters make more than eight million journeys on the O-Bahn which is about the same number as those who use our two busiest rail services – the Seaford and Gawler lines – combined,” he says.

Public consultation on the plan has already begun.

“We will be undertaking an extensive stakeholder and community consultation process, including information sessions around Adelaide including in the Parklands,” says Mullighan.

“We look forward to working closely with the Adelaide City Council, East End traders and other key stakeholders on this project.

“South Australians will have the opportunity to put forward their views on the revised proposal and make sure we are delivering the best possible outcome for our great city.”

Weatherhill says the closure of Rundle Road and realigning it further to the south will return more land to the East Parklands and enhance the space.

“At the moment it’s playing host to the Adelaide Fringe’s Garden of Unearthly Delights but we want to transform it into one of Adelaide’s premier outdoor event spaces that will attract other festivals and events,” he said.

“By closing Rundle Road we are able to return more than 3000 square metres of land to Rundle Park.”

During the public consultation process information sessions will be held throughout March with the public consultation period ending on March 31.

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