Building stronger foundations for generations ahead
South Australia is entering a major phase of growth, with the State Government rolling out a pipeline of infrastructure projects set to reshape daily life for communities across the state.
New transport links, renewable energy initiatives, upgraded schools, hospitals and community facilities are among the key developments underway as part of the State Government’s SA is Building program.
The investment program is designed not only to meet today’s demands but also to prepare South Australia for the challenges of the decades ahead. The projects are expected to deliver long-term benefits to households and businesses, supporting population growth, industry expansion and improved services.
By modernising critical infrastructure, the government aims to create a more connected, resilient and competitive state – one where future generations can rely on the systems and services needed to thrive.
River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project
South Australia’s most ambitious infrastructure project represents the final 10.5km segment of the 78km North-South Corridor. The $15.4 billion project aims to transform Adelaide’s transport network by creating a continuous, non-stop motorway from Gawler to Old Noarlunga.
The T2D section will feature two separate twin three-lane tunnels and a lowered open motorway, designed to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights and reduce travel times by up to 40 minutes during peak hours, giving South Australians more time for the moments that really matter.
The project is anticipated to support approximately 5,500 jobs annually during main construction, contributing to a significant skills legacy for South Australia. It will also maximise opportunities for local businesses and ensure the project’s benefits are widely distributed.
Scheduled for completion in 2031, the T2D is expected to facilitate more efficient movement of goods and people from north to south, contributing to a more prosperous and sustainable future for South Australia.
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More housing for all South Australians
South Australia is fast-tracking the largest release of residential land in the state’s history, a move expected to reshape housing opportunities for tens of thousands of residents. The initiative will unlock land for more than 40,000 new homes, aiming to address growing demand and provide South Australians with greater access to affordable housing.
The State Government is pairing the land release with a major investment in supporting infrastructure, including roads, schools, hospitals and public transport links. These measures will ensure new communities are well-serviced from the outset while driving local economic growth by generating new jobs in construction, civil works and related industries.
By fast-tracking land releases and development, the government aims to accelerate housing supply while supporting a sustainable pipeline of employment opportunities for workers across the state.
Green spaces, walking and cycling paths, and other community amenities are being incorporated to ensure new suburbs meet the needs of families and individuals alike.
This strategy promises not only to help more people find a place of their own but also to lay the foundations for thriving, long-term communities across the state.
New Women’s and Children’s Hospital
The State Government is delivering South Australia’s next-generation healthcare facility with the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital (nWCH), set to be completed by 2031.
Designed to meet the needs of future communities, the hospital will provide 414 overnight beds – 56 more than the current facility – along with expanded theatres, emergency capacity and space for future growth.
“A combined women’s and children’s hospital is incredibly unique, with only a few worldwide,” nWCH project director Tom Kirkland says. “It is the leading provider of specialist care for children and adolescents, maternity and obstetrics services, and provides a tertiary mental health facility for children and adolescents.”
Located in Adelaide’s BioMed City precinct, the hospital will connect with Kaurna country and the surrounding parklands, offering therapeutic outdoor spaces for families and patients.
“The new site provides space for a larger, modern WCH with room for both the WCH and the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) to expand in the future,” Kirkland says.
New features include an onsite helipad and an integrated four-bed Intensive Care Unit, allowing women requiring critical care to remain on site.
“Healthy environments also remain an important element of the project as we set out to build one of the first all-electric public hospitals in Australia,” Kirkland says. “When complete, the nWCH will enable the provision of contemporary best practice patient care for our future communities.”
New technical colleges
South Australia is transforming secondary education by opening five new technical colleges between 2024 and 2026. These specialised campuses offer students in Years 10-12 the opportunity to earn their SACE while completing a VET (Vocational Education & Training) qualification in modern, industry-linked facilities.
The first, Findon Technical College, opened in January 2024. The second, Port Augusta Technical College, opened in early August to serve regional students and provide short-stay accommodation to support learners from distant parts of the Upper Spencer Gulf and beyond.
Three more colleges are slated to open in 2026:
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The Heights Technical College in Modbury Heights will focus on pathways like aeroskills, advanced manufacturing and engineering, building and construction, and early childhood education.
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Tonsley Technical College will specialise in advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive and energy, and building and construction.
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Limestone Coast Technical College, currently under construction at at the TAFE SA campus in Mount Gambier, will offer programs in agri-tech, early childhood and education, health and social support and multi-trades, with on-site student accommodation.
Together, these five colleges provide students with a launchpad for a guaranteed career.
Regional road upgrades
A sweeping safety upgrade is underway across South Australia’s regional roads, targeting high-risk stretches to make travel safer, smoother and more reliable. The program includes new safety barriers, shoulder widening and sealing, Audio Tactile Line Markings and resurfacing to reduce crashes and save lives.
On the Barrier Highway, 60km between Burra and Riverton has been upgraded with shoulder widening, pavement rehabilitation and barriers. A 30km section of Mannum Road, linking Mannum and Murray Bridge, has also received safety treatments. On the Yorke Peninsula, two major sections of Upper Yorke Road – 35km between Kulpara and Arthurton and 25km between Port Broughton and Bute – has been improved as part of a $168 million Road Safety Program.
Other key works include upgrades along RM Williams Way in the Mid North, the Mallee Highway near Tailem Bend, and priority routes in the Barossa Valley, Eyre Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula. A separate $10 million package is targeting roads such as Southern Ports Highway, Spencer Highway, Flinders Highway, Goolwa Road and Gorge Road.
On the Limestone Coast, the Southern Ports Highway is receiving an $18.3 million upgrade across two 15km sections, due for completion by mid-2026.
Ultimately, the works are about more than road repairs – they are about saving lives and building stronger, safer connections between South Australian communities.
For more information, visit saisbuilding.sa.gov.au
