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Plans for a bypass along a busy South Australian freight route have split a country town, with businesses worried their customer base will dry up.
Key points:
- Construction on the $200m bypass is set to begin next year
- More than 4,000 vehicles travel through the town each day, many of which are trucks
- Businesses are worried about the impact on trade, but others say it could be a growth opportunity
The town of Truro is located at the edge of the Barossa Valley and the state's Murraylands along the Sturt Highway.
The highway doubles as the town's main street, but a bypass is set to be built to the north, with the federal and state governments committing $200 million to the project in 2021.
Talk of the bypass had been going on for decades and a year after the project was locked in the proposal was still controversial among residents.
Truro Progress Association member Duane Boerth said any reduction of traffic along the main street would mean "death" for his retail business.
"We've been told that there will be 92 to 97 per cent less passing traffic," he said.
"So it sort of spells the end for my shop and there are a few other shopkeepers in a similar position.
Meanwhile, the town's hotel licensee, Max Wilson, said he wants to see the bypass completed as quickly as possible.
He said the town could continue to attract travellers, even with the bypass in place.
"When I bought the hotel 47 years ago, locals said 'What are you going to do when the bypass goes around?'" he said.
Bypass it and they will come?
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport is still 18 months away from starting work on the project, which was meant to get underway late this year.
Department chief executive Jon Whelan said representatives were meeting with locals to hear their concerns.
"This is a very complex project — we want to get it right," he said.
"Nearly 4,000 vehicles travel through Truro [daily] and more than 30 per cent are heavy vehicles.
"Getting them out of the main street is really important."
Mid Murray Mayor David Burgess said the council believed the bypass could lead to residential and commercial growth.
"They sit right next to the Barossa, so it's a chance to take some pressure off the floor of the Barossa and save all their grape vines," he said.
Mr Burgess said the council was investigating a funding program aimed at community programs to improve the town.
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