Truro Businesses Call for Certainty on Freight Bypass Project

Local businesses in Truro, South Australia, are in a state of uncertainty, pausing crucial decisions as they await clarity on the proposed Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass. This major road project, intended to divert heavy traffic around the township, has been a topic of discussion since the 2025 federal election.

The A$1 billion project would reroute trucks away from Truro's main street, the Sturt Highway. However, the timeline remains unclear due to an ongoing funding dispute. The state government insists the federal government should cover 80% of the costs, while the federal government has offered 60%. This disagreement follows previous commitments and defunding of bypass plans by different government administrations.

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A fair bit of traffic does come through off the highway, because people driving past see the pub and they'll turn in at the last minute.

This prolonged uncertainty is impacting local enterprises. Nicholas Brown, manager of the Truro Hotel, explained that the highway traffic is vital for businesses like his. He expressed concern about the long-term viability of the hotel and potential new ventures, such as rebuilding a bottle shop, if the bypass significantly reduces visitor numbers. "Would [the traffic] be enough to run a site on the opposite side of the road, away from the pub, where we need to employ a half a dozen people to run it?" Brown questioned.

Discussions about a Truro bypass have spanned decades, with various plans proposed and abandoned. While some residents view the bypass as a necessary advancement, others harbor skepticism about its impact on the town's character and its actual realization. The project is estimated to divert up to 420,000 trucks annually.

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Would [the traffic] be enough to run a site on the opposite side of the road, away from the pub, where we need to employ a half a dozen people to run it? I don't think it would be viable with the fact we're not quite big enough as a town; the town relies on the outside influence from the highway.