Skip to main content

The Adelaide Crafers Highway Project

Heysen Tunnels

The Adelaide - Crafers Highway, South Australia's largest road project, provides first-class driving conditions for heavy freight operators and regular commuters and is a magnificent gateway to the city from the eastern states.  The project was funded by the Federal Government under the National Highways program, resulting in many benefits to road users and the community.

In this project Princes Highway traverses the western escarpment of the Mt Lofty Ranges descending 430 metres within a distance of 10 km.  The route sweeps through dense bushland, deep gullies and steep hills and features the Heysen Tunnels (the first twin-tube tunnels on the National Highway).  The benefits for people who use the road are improved travel times, reduced fuel costs and increased safety while reducing accident costs.

Project time frame

Completed on 5 March 2000

Project cost

$151 million