{{Short description|Highway in South Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox Australian road | road_name = Port Wakefield Highway | road_name2 = Port Wakefield Road | type = highway | state = sa | image = | length = 89.7 | length_ref = <ref name="gmaps">{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/-34.1625939,138.156813/-34.8479822,138.6000682/@-34.7294316,138.6362845,11.89z/data=!4m3!4m2!3e0!5i1 |title=Port Wakefield Highway |accessdate=26 May 2022}}</ref> | route = {{AUshield|SA|A1}} A1 {{small|(2017–present)}} | former = {{plainlist| *{{AUshield|NH|A1}} National Highway A1 {{small|(1998–2017)}} *{{AUshield|NH|1}} National Highway 1 {{small|(1974–1998)}} *{{AUshield|NR|1}} National Route 1 {{small|(1955–1974)}} }} | direction_a = North | direction_b = South | coordinates_a = {{coord|-34.162656|138.156639|type:landmark_region:AU-SA|display=inline}} | coordinates_b = {{coord|-34.848097|138.600178|type:landmark_region:AU-SA|display=inline}} | pushpin_label_position_a = top | pushpin_label_position_b = bottom | end_a = {{AUshield|SA|A1}} '''Augusta Highway'''<br />{{small|Port Wakefield, South Australia}} | end_b = {{AUshield|SA|A1|SA|A20}} '''Main North Road'''<br />{{small|Gepps Cross, Adelaide}} | est = | exits = {{plainlist| *{{AUshield|SA|B85}} Copper Coast Highway *{{AUshield|SA|B84}} Balaklava Road *{{AUshield|SA|B77}} Mallala Road *{{AUshield|SA|M2}} North–South Motorway *{{AUshield|SA|M2}} Northern Expressway *{{AUshield|SA|A9}} Salisbury Highway *{{AUshield|SA|A16}} Grand Junction Road}} | region = Yorke and Mid North, Barossa Light and Lower North, Northern Adelaide<ref name="SARegions">{{cite web |url=https://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=136.19383&y=-32.61774&z=7&uids=20 |title=Location SA Map viewer with regional layers |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=16 June 2022}}</ref> | through = {{SAcity|Two Wells|Virginia|Cavan|Gepps Cross}} }}
'''Port Wakefield Highway''' (and its southern section as '''Port Wakefield Road''') is an important South Australian highway, connecting Adelaide to the Yorke Peninsula, Port Augusta, northern and western South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is designated National Highway A1 and a part of the National Highway. It is named after Port Wakefield, the first government town north of Adelaide.
==Route== Port Wakefield Highway begins at the intersection of Augusta and Copper Coast Highways just north of Port Wakefield, and runs as a four-lane, dual-lane carriageway south to the interchange with the North–South Motorway and Northern Expressway; it changes name to Port Wakefield Road and continues south into Adelaide as a four-lane, dual-carriage road, widening to six lanes at Ryans Road in Parafield Gardens, narrowing back to four lanes at Cavan Road in Gepps Cross, and then ends at Main North Road a short distance later. The route is dual-carriageway for its entire length to Port Wakefield and bypasses all of the small towns along its former route.
==History== {{Expand section|date=March 2020|reason=history before the dual carriageway with bypasses is not here}} The four-span bridge opened in 1926 over the Gawler railway line at Cavan was replaced with two dual carriageway bridges in 1980.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129709466 Port Wakefield Road Closed] ''The News'' 4 September 1926 page 8</ref> At the same time Virginia and Two Wells were bypassed.<ref>Upgrading for Adelaide's northern outlets ''Australian Transport'' March 1980 page 19</ref>
In 2011 an upgrade including road widening of nine kilometres of Port Wakefield Road between Salisbury Highway and Waterloo Corner Road was completed as part of the Northern Expressway project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auslink.gov.au/Projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=SA149 |publisher=Government of Australia |work=AusLink |title=AusLink Projects: Northern Expressway |date=2006-07-14 |access-date=2006-08-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107183045/http://www.auslink.gov.au/Projects/ProjectDetails.aspx?Project_id=SA149 |archive-date=7 November 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Historically, the whole route was named Port Wakefield Road, however following the opening of the Northern Expressway, the route from Port Wakefield south to that junction in Waterloo Corner was renamed Port Wakefield Highway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.landservices.sa.gov.au/3Government/Local/_files/ADELAIDE_Surrounds_and_Fleurieu_DTEI_Roads.pdf |publisher=Department for Infrastructure and Transport |title=Proposed naming of rural roads |date=March 2011 |access-date=26 May 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328014659/http://www.landservices.sa.gov.au/3Government/Local/_files/ADELAIDE_Surrounds_and_Fleurieu_DTEI_Roads.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2011 }}</ref>
In February 2020, the northbound ramp from Port Wakefield Road to the Northern Expressway was closed permanently as part of the final stages of opening the Northern Connector, the project name at the time for the northernmost part of the North–South Motorway. Northbound traffic to the Northern Expressway needs to use an earlier entrance to the North–South Motorway or join the Northern Expressway later via Waterloo Corner Road and Heaslip Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/637855/NEXY_permanent_ramp_closure_NOTICE_16_Feb_NORTHERN_CONNECTOR_-_APPROVED..v3..docx.pdf |title=Northern Expressway on-ramp – closure and detour |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure |date=February 2020 |work=North-South Corridor Northern Connector Project notification |access-date=29 February 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229010745/https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/637855/NEXY_permanent_ramp_closure_NOTICE_16_Feb_NORTHERN_CONNECTOR_-_APPROVED..v3..docx.pdf |archive-date=29 February 2020}}</ref>
The original bypass of Port Wakefield has become built up with roadhouses and other businesses, leading to calls to build a new bypass further east;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/documents/5_MID%20NORTH%20&%20YORKE%20PENINSULA_38-47.pdf |title=Mid North and Yorke Peninsula |publisher=Government of South Australia |work=Strategic Infrastructure Plan |date=April 2005 |access-date=2006-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060511162637/http://www.infrastructure.sa.gov.au/documents/5_MID%20NORTH%20%26%20YORKE%20PENINSULA_38-47.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> this has evolved into a duplication of the road through Port Wakefield, resulting in wider carriageways and a safer separation of traffic. The contract for detailed design and construction of duplication of the highway through Port Wakefield and a grade-separated intersection with the Copper Coast Highway was let in March 2020 to the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Alliance (a consortium of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and GHD Group, also responsible for the duplication of Joy Baluch AM Bridge in Port Augusta),<ref name="DIT">{{cite web |url=https://dit.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/road_projects/port_wakefield_overpass_and_township_duplication |title=Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication |publisher=Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/640531/03-01_Port_Wakefield_and_Joy_Baluch_upgrades_are_signed_sealed_and_soon_to_be_delviered.pdf |date=1 March 2020 |first=Michael |last=McCormack |author-link=Michael McCormack (Australian politician) |title=PORT WAKEFIELD AND JOY BALUCH UPGRADES ARE SIGNED, SEALED AND SOON TO BE DELIVERED |via=Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure |access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> with the government announcing an overpass for the intersection with Copper Coast Highway in 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p1CrVPEpeuc | title=New overpass to open at notorious Port Wakefield traffic nightmare spot | 7NEWS - YouTube | website=YouTube }}</ref> Project construction commenced in late 2020, with completion expected in 2022;<ref name="DIT" /> the overpass to Copper Coast Highway opened in December 2021, four months ahead of schedule.<ref name="PWoverpass">{{cite web |url=https://www.cpbcon.com.au/en/news-and-media/2022/cpb-contractors-delivers-port-wakefield-overpass-four-months-ahead-of-schedule |title=CPB Contractors delivers Port Wakefield Overpass four months ahead of schedule |publisher=CPB Contractors |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>
==Major intersections== {{AUSinttop|LGA_ref=<ref name="SALGAs">{{cite web |url=https://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=136.19383&y=-32.61774&z=7&uids=11 |title=Location SA Map viewer with LGA layers |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=16 June 2022}}</ref>|location_ref=<ref name="gmaps" /><ref name="SAlocs">{{cite web |url=https://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=hybrid&x=136.19383&y=-32.61774&z=7&uids=19 |title=Location SA Map viewer with suburb layers |publisher=Government of South Australia |accessdate=16 June 2022}}</ref>|length_ref=<ref name="gmaps" />}} {{SAint |LGA-RC=Wakefield |LGAspan=3 |location=Port Wakefield |lspan=3 |km=0.0 |uspan=2 |type=trans |road={{AUshield|SA|A1}} Augusta Highway (A1 north){{SAcity|p=on|Snowtown|Port Augusta}} |notes=Northern terminus of Port Wakefield Highway, route A1 continues north along Augusta Highway }} {{SAint |km=none |road={{AUshield|SA|B85}} Copper Coast Highway (B85 west){{SAcity|p=on|Kadina|Wallaroo}} |notes= }} {{SAint |km=2.2 |road={{AUshield|SA|B84}} Balaklava Road (B84 northeast){{SAcity|p=on|Balaklava|Auburn}}<br />North Street (west){{SAcity|p=on|Port Wakefield}} |notes= }} {{SAint |LGA-Co=Adelaide Plains |location=Two Wells |km=59.6 |road={{AUshield|SA|B77}} Mallala Road (B77){{SAcity|p=on|Two Wells|Mallala}}, to {{AUshield|SA|B77}} Gawler Road (B77){{SAcity|p=on|Gawler}} |notes= }} {{SAint |LGAC=Playford |LGAspan=3 |location_special={{SAcity|Riverlea Park}}–{{SAcity|Virginia}} boundary |km=66.7 |road=Angle Vale Road{{SAcity|p=on|Virginia|Angle Vale|Gawler}} |notes= }} {{SAint |location_special={{SAcity|Virginia}}–{{SAcity|Waterloo Corner}} boundary |km=72.0 |road=Old Port Wakefield Road{{SAcity|p=on|Virginia}} |notes= }} {{SAint |location=Waterloo Corner |lspan=2 |km=73.5 |type=incomplete |road={{AUshield|SA|M2}} Northern Expressway (M2 northeast){{SAcity|p=on|Gawler}}<br />{{AUshield|SA|M2}} North–South Motorway (M2 southwest){{SAcity|p=on|Wingfield|Hindmarsh}} |notes=Partial interchange: no northbound entrances to Northern Expressway and North–South Motorway<br />Southern terminus of Port Wakefield Highway, northern terminus of Port Wakefield Road }} {{SAint |LGAC=Salisbury |LGAspan=5 |km=76.7 |road=Waterloo Corner Road{{SAcity|p=on|Salisbury|St Kilda}} |notes= }} {{SAint |location_special={{SAcity|Bolivar}}–{{SAcity|Paralowie}} boundary |km=80.3 |road={{AUshield|SA|A18}} Bolivar Road (A18){{SAcity|p=on|Modbury}}<br />{{AUshield|SA|M2}} North–South Motorway (M2 west){{SAcity|p=on|Waterloo Corner|Wingfield}} |notes= }} {{SAint |location_special={{SAcity|Dry Creek}}–{{SAcity|Mawson Lakes}} boundary |km=85.7 |road={{AUshield|SA|A9}} Salisbury Highway (A9){{SAcity|p=on|Port Adelaide|Salisbury}} |notes=Diamond interchange }} {{SAint |location_special={{SAcity|Dry Creek}}–{{SAcity|Mawson Lakes}}–{{SAcity|Cavan}} tripoint |km=86.6 |bridge=''Gawler and Adelaide-Port Augusta SG railway lines'' }} {{SAint |location=Cavan |km=87.4 |road=Churchill Road North (west){{SAcity|p=on|Dry Creek}}<br />Montague Road (east){{SAcity|p=on|Pooraka|Para Vista}} |notes= }} {{SAint |LGAC=Port Adelaide Enfield |LGAspan=3 |location_special={{SAcity|Gepps Cross}}–{{SAcity|Dry Creek}} boundary |km=88.5 |road={{AUshield|SA|A22}} Cavan Road (A22){{SAcity|p=on|Dry Creek|Kilburn}} |notes= }} {{SAint |location_special={{SAcity|Blair Athol}}–{{SAcity|Enfield}}–{{SAcity|Gepps Cross}} tripoint |lspan=2 |km=89.7 |uspan=2 |road={{AUshield|SA|A16}} Grand Junction Road (A16 west, east){{SAcity|p=on|Port Adelaide|Northfield|Hope Valley}}<br />{{AUshield|SA|A20}} Main North Road (A20 north-east){{SAcity|p=on|Elizabeth|Gawler|Nurioopta}} |notes= }} {{SAint |km=none |type=trans |road={{AUshield|SA|A1}} Main North Road (A1 south){{SAcity|p=on|North Adelaide}} |notes=Southern terminus of Port Wakefield Road, route A1 continues south along Main North Road }} {{Jctbtm|keys=incomplete,trans}}
==Towns== thumb|right|upright|Approximate road distances (in kilometres) of towns along the Port Wakefield Road from Main North Road, Adelaide Port Wakefield Road passes through the northern Adelaide Plains. To the west of the road is the coastal fringe of upper Gulf St Vincent, including a number of fishing and holiday villages. To the east is rich cropping and farming land.
The list of towns on or near the road include: * Virginia * Two Wells * Lower Light * Dublin * Windsor * Wild Horse Plains * Inkerman * Port Wakefield
==See also== {{portal-inline|Australian Roads}} * Highways in Australia * List of highways in South Australia * Highway 1 (Australia) * Highway 1 (South Australia) * Lower Light protest statues
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Road infrastructure in Adelaide}} {{Road infrastructure in South Australia}}
Category:Highways in Australia Category:Roads in Adelaide Category:Roads in South Australia Category:Freeways and highways in Adelaide Category:Highway 1 (Australia)