Public Transport Projects Alliance

Quicklinks

Project Overview

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/

Works Notifications

Completed works notifications

Click here to view completed works notifications.

Latest News

View all articles

Community Survey

Thu, 25 May

The Australian and South Australian Governments have removed the rail level crossing on Torrens Road, Ovingham to improve travel times, connectivity, and safety for all road and rail users. The $196 million project was jointly funded (50:50) by both Governments.

Read full article

Bridge and plaza naming

Tue, 28 March

Karrarendi Yerta (the new Torrens Road bridge) and Karrarendi Yerta Kadla (plaza area) have been officially named in recognition of the trade route used by the Kaurna people between Adelaide and the Port Adelaide regions for thousands of years.

Read full article

Access changes

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

May - June 2022

A traffic switch was undertaken between 8:30pm Sunday, 29 May 2022 and 5am Friday, 17 June 2022. For information please click here.

June 2021

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.



Landscaping and urban design

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.

Project Publications

Project Fact Sheets

Project Timelines

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.

Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project - Timeline

Early Investigation Works

November and December 2020
Investigation works including geotechnical investigations and location of utility services

Demolition of Drayton Street commercial property

January and February 2021
Demolition of the Drayton Street commercial properties for site office establishment

Enabling works

January to May 2021
Site establishment, fencing, median removals, service relocations and site clearance

First traffic switch

Mid 2021
Changes to the Churchill Road Intersection to enable works to begin

Start of piling works for the bridge

Mid 2021
Piling for the bridge starts

Offline construction of the bridge

Third quarter 2021 –first quarter 2022
Offline construction of the bridge

Reconfiguration of Torrens Road and Churchill Road intersection

First quarter 2022
Traffic switch two

Partial opening of bridge to traffic

Mid 2022
Traffic switch three

Project completion

2023
Completion of the project and removal of the level crossing

To view the detailed construction timeline please click here.

SitePodium app

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.

Local business support

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.

Local businesses

Community Engagement

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.

A Day in the Life of Peter Varsos - Site Engineer

Mural artwork under the Torrens Road bridge

Torrens Road bridge open to traffic

Nest box workshop with Brompton Primary School

Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project - Torrens Road bridge girders

Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project - Nicole Dowden - Undergraduate Engineer

Reconciliation Week June 2021

Reconciliation Week Event – 9 June 2021

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.

Project Image Gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the purpose of the Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project?

    Separating the rail line from the road (grade separation) at the Torrens Road level crossing will:

    • Improve safety for all road users (motorists, cyclists and pedestrians).
    • Cut travel times for motorists.
    • Increase freight productivity.
    • Improve reliability for buses on Torrens Road.
    • Improve walkability by creation of new community open space.
  • How much will the project cost?

    The total budget for the Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project is $196million.

  • When will construction commence?

    Early works started in late 2020, followed by major construction in mid-2021 and project completion anticipated in 2023.

  • What community engagement has been undertaken to date?

    Planning Phase:

    Community engagement activities were undertaken during the planning phase of the project during late 2019 / early 2020 to help inform the selection of a preferred design solution, from four options identified as part of the planning study (refer to the factsheet ‘Understanding the different design options’).

    During the planning phase, the project team hosted five community information sessions (which were attended by over 150 people), and interviewed key businesses and residents within the project area. In addition, 366 survey responses were received during the planning phase, mostly from local residents and business owners.

    This feedback was used, along with technical advice, as part of an options assessment process to inform the selection of a preferred design solution, which was to raise the road over the railway line.

    Concept Design:

    A second round of community engagement activities were undertaken during the development of an initial concept design, which was made publicly available in July 2020. During August 2020, four community information sessions were hosted to discuss the initial concept design that were attended by over 135 local residents.

    An online engagement hub was also launched for the community to access project information and submit questions and feedback to the project team, via an online map and virtual information sessions. These online tools have ensured that engagement with the community has continued during COVID-19 restrictions.

    The project team has also met with the Cities of Charles Sturt and Prospect, Kaurna Elders, local schools, businesses and residents associations to discuss the concept design and seek further feedback.

    Finalising the Design:

    The concept design has been updated and refined based on feedback received and is now available for public viewing on our website: www.DIT.sa.gov.au/OvinghamLXing

    It is anticipated that the design will be finalised in mid-2021.

    You can read how community engagement has fed into the design in the factsheet ‘What we Heard’ on the project website.

  • Will Ovingham Railway Station be upgraded?

    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/

  • Will there be any impacts to passenger rail services?

    During construction there will be some occasions when a temporary closure of the Gawler Rail Line is required. When this occurs, substitute buses will be in place and will replicate the level of service and frequency of train services as closely as possible.

  • How will traffic be managed during construction?

    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 information on traffic management please click here.

Register For Updates

COVID-19 Response

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