UPGRADES to the entrance of the South Australian Livestock Exchange and Carslake Road have been completed, as part of the $11 million Dublin Saleyard Access Upgrade.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said the facility would have increasing importance to SA's livestock industry with the expected growth of exports of Australian meat helping to connect communities and improve safety, while creating jobs and supporting our economic recovery.
"The Dublin saleyard is an incredibly important piece of the agricultural jigsaw in SA with some 12 to 14 road trains, mostly B doubles, arriving at the facility each week," he said.
"Traffic loads on the Port Wakefield road continue to increase and the federal government, in partnership with the state, has been funding extensive upgrades, including the Port Wakefield overpass and the commitment to duplicate the Port Augusta Highway.
"This project has supported 34 full-time equivalent jobs through the construction period which is excellent.
"However, the real benefits lie in the provision of first-class access in and out of the saleyards."
South Australian Livestock Exchange manager Andrew Lepley said with stock coming from all across SA, NT and south west Qld, the importance of the access works could not be underestimated.
"The facility averages around 70,000 cattle and 650,000 sheep a year and the upgrade of the intersection will eliminate the risk of serious vehicle accidents and will allow heavy vehicle drivers to enter the carriageway without causing traffic mayhem," he said.
"Carslake Road has become very busy with heavy vehicles in the last two to three years with the construction of two grain terminals and also a log transfer station- all of these industries use road trains."
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SA's Infrastructure and Transport Minister Corey Wingard said the project, which began in February, was another great example of the state and federal governments' massive investment in infrastructure projects in regional SA.
"The Australian and South Australian governments are committed to building what matters to our regional communities," he said.
Works on the Port Wakefield Highway/Carslake Road junction upgrade are also progressing, with completion expected in the coming weeks.
Right-turn movements from Carslake Road onto Port Wakefield Highway will be the final works to be completed.
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