A $1.5 million upgrade to a key freight route linking Berri and Monash is set to begin later this year.
Berri Barmera Council is preparing to undertake the project along Jury Road in Berri, which will include an interim upgrade and realignment of the Old Sturt Highway and Jury Road intersection, with works to stretch about 1.4km from the intersection to McKay Road.
The council secured $925,000 in Federal Government funding for the project, with council to cover the remaining costs.
Riverland firm Scherer Contractors have been contracted to complete the project, with works to begin in late August to early September.
The current corner alignments and narrow seal width at the Old Sturt Highway/Jury Road intersection make it difficult for heavy vehicles to navigate the road, the council said.
Berri Barmera Council’s infrastructure services manager Dave Otto de Grancy said improving the alignment of the road would “take out a number of higher risk areas and make navigating that section of the road a lot easier for both light and heavy vehicles.”
“The project has been designed to address a number of alignment concerns within the road and that, along with the undulating surface, mean that a simple reseal is not able to be undertaken,” he said.
“The upgrade will deliver a road that is suitable for long-term heavy vehicle use with adequate seal width and shoulder zones.”
Berri Barmera Council chief executive officer Karyn Burton said the council was committed to improving safety along local roads.
“Although the intersection is the responsibility of the State Government, council has committed to realigning the intersection as part of the project to slow oncoming traffic and increase safety,” she said.
“Accessing grant funding to assist council to provide a valuable upgrade that improved freight connections, increases safety and allows council to continue to invest within our road network without the full financial burden falling upon rate payers for delivery.”