Ovingham Level Crossing Removal

The Australian and South Australian governments have announced $196 million towards the removal of the level crossing at Torrens Road, Ovingham.

The crossing is located near the fringe of the Adelaide CBD on Torrens Road at Ovingham. An average of 21,300 vehicles pass through this level crossing each day.

The boom gates at Torrens Road, Ovingham are down for approximately 22 per cent of the time during the combined AM and PM peak periods.

The junction of Torrens Road and Churchill Road is approximately 100 metres from the level crossing.

Torrens Road crosses both the interstate rail line and the Gawler passenger rail line.

Removal of the level crossing will lead to improved:

• travel times for motorists
• reliability for buses using Torrens Road
• increased freight productivity
• safety for all road users (motorists, cyclists and pedestrians) by removing a road-rail crossing point

The South Australian State Government is delivering the project as part of an alliance with McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd, Mott MacDonald Australia Pty Ltd and Arup Pty Ltd, meaning a collaborative approach will be taken to complete the works.

The State Government has recently announced that Ovingham Railway Station will receive a $10 million upgrade. For further information on the upgrades to railway stations across metropolitan Adelaide, please visit https://dit.sa.gov.au/

The PTP Alliance called on South Australian artists to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI), for sculpture and mural artwork, for the public realm of the new Torrens Road bridge.

The EoI phase closed on the 9 February 2022. The PTP Alliance will provide an update on selected artists in early June 2022.

Artwork brief 1 - Murals on eastern and western bridge walls

As part of the Ovingham Level Crossing Removal project, two large scale murals are being commissioned for the two concrete abutment walls (east and west walls) beneath the new Torrens Road bridge. We seek artists/artist teams to loosely interpret the local Kaurna Dreaming story which features a Tindo ‘sun’ and a Kakirra ‘moon’, in their own style.

For Artwork brief 1 click here

Artwork brief 2 - Bridge pier murals

As part of the Ovingham Level Crossing Removal project, 12 murals are being commissioned for the 12 concrete piers which will support the new Torrens Road bridge. The 12 piers will be allocated in sets of four and give artists/artist teams an opportunity to create designs that tie in with the new Torrens Road bridge, landscaping, and local area.

For Artwork brief 2 click here

Artwork brief 3 - Freestanding art

Four freestanding art installations, Mankamankarana ‘Seven Sisters’, Tinninyarana ‘Three Hunters’, ‘Mosaic Fire Pit’ and ‘Weaving Woman’ will provide opportunities for artists/artist teams to create designs that interpret (in their own style) the Kaurna Dreaming Story for the local area, the new Torrens Road bridge, and the surrounding landscaping design.

For Artwork brief 3 click here

For FAQs please click here

Click here to view completed works notifications.

6 September 2021 - LinkedIn media article

29 November 2021 - Magazine article

To keep traffic moving as freely as possible in the area while this project is delivered, three key traffic switches will be made.

The first traffic switch took place on Monday, 28 June 2021. The switch will remain in place into the first quarter of 2022. Traffic management and detour signage is in place. Please plan ahead, allow extra travel time and take extra care when workers are on site. Observe speed limits, lane restrictions and traffic controllers when travelling through the area.

For more details on access changes please click here.

Community feedback highlighted the importance of landscaping, community safety and creating high quality public space around and under the new bridge. We are working with local councils, SA Police, Kaurna Elders and local schools to discuss public activation, safety, revegetation and the incorporation of cultural heritage.

For more information on landscaping and Urban design please click here.

On 18 January 2021, the State and Federal governments announced the contract award for the delivery phase of the project.

A consortium of McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd, Mott MacDonald Australia Pty Ltd and Arup Pty Ltd has been selected to remove the Ovingham Level Crossing and elevate Torrens Road over the Gawler Rail Line. The consortium has previously completed major infrastructure works in South Australia, as part of the Public Transport Projects Alliance, including the Oaklands Level Crossing Grade Separation project, and is currently delivering the Regency Road to Pym Street Project as part of the North-South Corridor.

The project is due for completion in 2023, weather permitting.

To view the detailed construction timeline please click here.

The PTP Alliance is using SitePodium, a smart phone app that provides information about the Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project.

SitePodium presents the information in a social media style feed, allowing photos and information to be shared quickly.

The app also has an option for you to provide feedback about current project works and design, as well as a message option for you to contact the PTP Alliance.

For information on how to download the app, click here.

The PTP Alliance works closely with local businesses to help manage construction impacts by providing timely information and briefings on upcoming works, business as usual signage and promotion to both the local community and the construction workforce.

Feedback provided by the community is important and will continue to help inform the development of the design.

As part of the project’s early concept design and review process, two information sessions were held to meet members of the community and seek feedback.

The information sessions were held at the Brompton Primary School on Saturday, 8 August, between 12.00pm and 2.00pm and Monday, 10 August 2020, between 6.00pm and 8.00pm.

A community information session was also held at the Austrian Club on 12 December 2020, between 11am and 2pm so that community members could view the updated design for the project, and understand how the comments and feedback received at the sessions in August 2020 has shaped the design.

Community engagement activities will continue as the project progresses further.

Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project What we Heard - December 2020.

To receive project updates please register your details at the bottom of this page.

To celebrate and recognise National Reconciliation Week, which was held from 27 May until 3 June, the PTP Alliance held an event at the Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project site compound on Wednesday, 9 June 2021.

Special guest, Jeffrey Newchurch (Uncle Jeffrey) welcomed the group and spoke about the importance of being included in major projects from the beginning, and the connections that can be built from this engagement.

The PTP Alliance has been working on the overpass design through a collaborative design engagement process with Kaurna Elders and community representatives. The Ovingham overpass design acknowledges Kaurna's local story of the interconnectivity between land and sky. It describes the important relationship between ancient knowledge and the need for ongoing landscape management. This is further reflected through the public realm design.

The Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project will continue to tailor community engagement opportunities in line with the latest COVID-19 advice from health authorities.

Face-to-face engagement opportunities may be restricted and we will continue to be guided by the advice of health authorities, with the health and safety of our stakeholders always our highest priority.

If you require any information about the project please contact the project team on 1300 613 533 via email at ovinghamcrossing@ptpa.com.au