East Terrace Upgrade

The East Terrace Upgrade project is a major road infrastructure initiative that was undertaken to deliver a north-south heavy vehicle bypass to the east of Kapunda town center. The project is a joint effort by the Australian and South Australian governments and the Light Regional Council. The project involved the construction of a new 1.3km road between Perry Road and Thiele Highway and upgrading two major intersections at both ends to accommodate 36.5m A Double Road Train. The $4.4 million project was completed by Jakelco Contracting in six months, from July to December 2021.

The primary objective of the East Terrace Upgrade project was to significantly reduce heavy vehicle traffic volumes through Kapunda town center. The project also aimed to reduce conflicts between heavy vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, tourists, and local traffic within Kapunda, reduce travel time, and improve access for heavy vehicles. The 90km/h bypass has facilitated the growth and development of local agricultural businesses and transport industries, improved freight efficiencies, and supported the Kapunda Region’s highly productive economy.

The scope of the project involved the construction of approximately 1.5km of undivided sealed rural road, including sealed shoulders and intersection upgrades within a new road reserve between Perry Road and Thiele Highway. The project also included works to realign the current sharp curves on East Terrace to provide better sight distance for road users. The detailed scope of work included:

• 30,000m3 of earthworks, including clear and grub of new alignment, stripping topsoil and stockpiling, bulk earthworks cut to fill, placing and compaction of fill, drainage swales, batter trimming, and spreading of topsoil. Due to the hard rock under the existing surface, D10 Dozer and 25T Excavator with Rock Breaker were utilized during excavation.
• Drainage works, including trenching, preparing subgrade and blinding, installation of 375mm and 1050mm reinforced concrete pipes, and associated headwalls
• 26,000m2 of pavement works, including the placement and compaction of various subbase and basecourse materials. Supply and installation of over 6000T Pavement Materials.
• Solar lighting installation associated civil works.
• Traffic management at Thiele Highway & East Terrace Intersection upgrade, with an AADT of 3200 vehicles/day on Thiele Highway.
• Coordination with Telstra for the relocation of Telstra pits.
• Managed several subcontractors, including Downer (sealing) for a contract value of $500k, Mantina Quarry (rubble supply) for a contract value of $1 million, Complete Traffic (traffic control) for a contract value of $150k, Green Frog Systems (Solar Lighting) for a contract value of $200k and Action Linemarking (line marking) for a contract value of $50k.
• Dilapidation Survey and Dust Control with 2 watertrucks on site during construction
• Managed major stakeholders, including Johnson’s and Mantina Quarry, and engaged with the local community during construction, including residents of Kapunda.
• Supply and installation of linemarking, safety barriers, and signage.

The East Terrace Upgrade project entailed detailed staging plans, extensive traffic management strategies, and innovative cost-saving solutions that reduced the overall project schedule. The project was executed with the utmost attention to safety and quality, with stringent quality control measures in place to ensure that the project met all the required standards and specifications.

The East Terrace Upgrade project has successfully delivered a new 1.3km road between Perry Road and Thiele Highway, and upgraded two major intersections at both ends to accommodate 36.5m A Double Road Train. The completed project is expected to significantly reduce heavy vehicle traffic volumes through the Kapunda township, reduce conflict between heavy vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, tourists, and local traffic within Kapunda, reduce travel time, and create improved access for heavy vehicles. The project has also facilitated the growth and development of local agricultural businesses and transport industries, improved freight efficiencies, and supported the Kapunda Region’s highly productive economy.