The new Granite Island Causeway is set to breathe new life and reinvigorate Granite Island and the Victor Harbor surrounds, according to Business Victor Harbor. 

“Business Victor Harbor supports the state government’s initiative of the new Causeway and we see the project as necessary for the ongoing viability and further development of our region,” says Michael Schubert, Chairman of Business Victor Harbor. 

Construction on the new Causeway is set to start later this year after a condition assessment by engineers identified that the original Causeway was approaching the end of its useful life. 

Safety issues were originally raised around the current Causeway in early 2019 after a pylon broke off and fell into the ocean below, temporarily cancelling the horse-drawn tram from operating. 

The Department of Planning, Transport and Industry (DPTI) has announced the two contractors shortlisted to design and construct the new project, McConnell Dowell Constructions and WATPAC Australia. 

The new concept design will be built alongside the existing Causeway that currently carries pedestrian traffic and the horse-drawn tram before curving onto Granite Island. 

“We welcome and support this development and anticipate an increase in tourism, business and community engagements as a result,” Michael Schubert says. 

“Given the new Causeway will run alongside the current one during construction ensures a seamless transition from the old to the new and enables business and tourism to keep operating at full capacity.”

Acting Infrastructure and Transport Minister Rob Lucas says building the new causeway will support around 43 full time equivalent jobs per year over the life of the project. 

There is no indication of how many of those jobs will go to locals.

The project will be delivered by DPTI, working collaboratively with the City of Victor Harbor, and is expected to be open for public access in late 2021.