The City of Victor Harbor has recently completed the Victor Harbor Ring Road. The project is the largest ever undertaken by Council and is believed to be the first for any Council in South Australia. Approximately seven kilometres in length, the Ring Road comprises four bridge connections. It provides a safe alternative route for traffic to bypass the key commercial area of Victor Harbor, and allows for the future development of areas that previously had poor accessibility.
Council commissioned contractors in 1999 to undertake a planning and environmental study. Extensive community consultation was undertaken by the consultants to ensure that the community’s needs would be taken into consideration. An extensive environmental report was also prepared, to examine the physical environment and the social and economic environment for potential effects.
Council believed that with effective management there would be minimal environmental effects resulting from the construction and operation of the Victor Harbor Ring Road.
Contractors undertook the construction, with the project completed five years ahead of the proposed timeframe and at a reduced overall cost to Council.
“The total cost of the project is in the order of $12.5 million, which includes preconstruction activities such as planning, preliminary design and acquisition, as well as the construction costs,” said Council’s Director Technical Services, Peter Bond. “Its conception began in the 1980s with construction in three stages, with the main portion of the road completed this year.”
The Ring Road has made a positive impact on the community by achieving a safer route through the main business area of the city, with less congestion and disruption. This makes tourist movements and local shopping more amenable, with positive effects on business. Council now has less traffic complaints and concerns about accidents on the old road network. The new route has also enabled Council to consider further development to the outskirts of the city in a controlled manner, for both residential and light commercial, that would not have been previously possible.
For further information, contact Peter Bond on (08) 8551 0523.
