Motorists will start to experience improved traffic flows and enhanced safety after the first constructed lanes as part of the $165 million Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road overpass opened.
The government said in addition to improving road safety, the new lanes will reduce traffic delays during peak hours and improve freight traffic flow.
The outbound lanes connecting Tiger Brennan Drive to Palmerston are now open and include the road under the overpass in the one direction only.
The project was initially budgeted at $61.5 million but has since blown out to $165 million, which the Lawler Government blamed on rising civil works costs for supplies.
The government said significant work has been completed on the project to date, including site remediation works and ground treatment works; service relocation works for HV power, telecommunications, water and sewer mains; and extensive bulk earthworks to create the new alignment of Tiger Brennan Drive along with high fills for elevated Berrimah Road and the new on & off ramps.
The upgrade work also involved the installation of major drainage culverts and the creation of stormwater detention ponds, the installation of streetlights, and the construction of the bridge.
As a result of the completed overpass, traffic on Berrimah Road will be separated from traffic movements on Tiger Brennan Drive. This will allow a continuous flow of traffic and continued safety, the government said.
The new Tiger Brennan Drive city-bound carriageway and tie-in to the existing lanes is scheduled to open to traffic in June, with the overall project anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the project will positively impact 20,000 motorists daily.
“Projects like this support Territorians in work and support a pipeline of local businesses. This milestone is the first of many,” Ms Lawler said.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said that the new step in this major project is welcome news for those who travel on Tiger Brennan Drive daily.
“We are working in partnership with the Northern Territory Government to deliver the new overpass, which will ease congestion – particularly in peak-period traffic,” Ms King said.
Sitzler is delivering the project with the support of local subcontractors and suppliers. Over 180 local businesses and 1,200 workers have been involved in the project so far, including 139 indigenous workers and 27 apprentices, the government said.
Should have been done when Tiger Brennan was extended, now it’s costing use 4 times what it would have cost them and 4 or 5 people have been killed at the intersection. More BS from the Labor party.