Oh Joy! Big Bridge Opening at the Crossroads of Australia

The newly duplicated Joy Baluch AM Bridge in Port Augusta – often called the Crossroads of Australia – is now open to traffic in both directions.

In March 2023, traffic was switched to run on both spans of the newly duplicated bridge concurrently for the first time, and in June 2023, both lanes in each direction were opened. This saw the bridge operating in its fully duplicated configuration for the first time.

Department for Infrastructure and Transport Chief Executive Jon Whelan said the Joy Baluch AM Bridge is an important link in the National Land Transport Network.

“This bridge carries over 17,000 vehicles every day, and provides that vital access across the Spencer Gulf for commuter, commercial and freight vehicles in the northern region of South Australia,” he said.

“If you’re driving from Adelaide to Darwin, or from Sydney or Melbourne to Perth, you pass across this bridge. It’s also a key tourist connection to northern South Australia and beyond, and down to the Eyre Peninsula as well."

The $200 million duplication has been jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments, with the Australian Government contributing $160 million and the South Australian Government $40 million.

The project has supported 114 fulltime equivalent jobs per year during construction, which began in 2020.

“It has been remarkable seeing the progress on this project,” Mr Whelan said.

“We started with the original dual lane bridge; one lane heading east and one lane heading west. The new span was constructed which then allowed us to upgrade the existing section, and in March this year we were able to see traffic on both spans.

“Once fully complete, we’ll have traffic moving two lanes each way. Westbound traffic on the upgraded structure and eastbound traffic on the new structure.”

The project includes 132 bridge beams and 46 piles, constructed from around 1,500 tonnes of Australianproduced steel, and over 2,000 metres of concrete barriers.

At the opening of the new section in 2022, and again when both spans began to operate concurrently, community events were held to celebrate the project milestones.

Mr Whelan said the turnout from the community was testament to the importance of the project.

“It’s been wonderful seeing local people get out and embrace this project as we’ve hit major milestones. We’ve seen crowds of people enthusiastically walking across the bridge, it was quite a sight as the sun set over the gulf.

"Being born and raised in Port Augusta, I am particularly proud of this project and the legacy it will leave.”

The bridge project also includes a new Shared Use Path to connect both sides of the gulf for pedestrians

Construction of the path included two of the largest precast, single-span prestressed concrete girders ever constructed in South Australia.

The 36-metre long and 1.8-metre -high girders, manufactured by South Australian business Bianco Precast, were installed along the Augusta Highway over the national rail line. Each of the mammoth girders has been constructed out of 16 tonnes of reinforced steel and 62 tonnes of concrete.

To accompany the newly duplicated bridge, a new swimming pontoon will be constructed along the Eastern Foreshore.

The South Australian Government is providing $1 million in funding for construction of the pontoon, which will be constructed to the western side bridge, to replace the old T-Jetty. The pontoon will feature a 35-metre jetty, then a 20-metre gangway to the 22-metre floating platform. It will also feature four ladders to allow easy access to and from the water.

New overhead electronic signage has also been switched on as part of the bridge project. The messaging signs on the Augusta Highway, one near Flinders Terrace and one near Mildred Street, include important traffic management information to help motorists avoid delays, along with real-time traffic information. A signalised Mackay Street intersection has also been installed and activated. The crossing over the gulf has long been a crucial part of traversing the continent. The original bridge opened in 1972, replacing the former Great Western Bridge which had been built in 1927. In 2012, it was named after former Port Augusta Mayor, Joy Baluch, who served numerous terms in the role from 1981 until her death in 2013.

“This bridge is a local landmark, and we’re very pleased that it will now service this community for generations to come as a duplicated structure,” Mr Whelan said.

The Joy Baluch AM Bridge

Duplication has been delivered by The Port Wakefield to Port Augusta (PW2PA) Alliance, a consortium of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and GHD, in alliance with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

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