Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) is proud to announce it has opened Eurimbla Way, a new grade‑separated road that will transform access to the Osborne Naval Shipyard and support the delivery of Australia’s nuclear‑powered submarine program.
The new connection links Pelican Point Road with the Osborne precinct via an elevated bridge over the existing rail corridor, creating a safe, secure and uninterrupted route for workers, freight and construction materials.
Construction of the road began in November 2024 and was completed in just over twelve months, marking a major early milestone for the Nuclear‑Powered Submarine Construction Yard program.
Eurimbla Way has been designed to reduce travel times for precinct users, remove delays caused by train movements and improve overall safety by eliminating the vehicle–train interface. As the shipyard workforce grows in the coming years, the new road will help minimise congestion and support efficient movement into and around the precinct and Outer Harbor.
ANI Managing Director and CEO, Andrew Seaton, said the road is a significant milestone and exciting step forward for the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard and South Australia.
“Eurimbla Way is more than a new road, it’s a critical piece of enabling infrastructure that builds momentum for the nuclear‑powered submarine program. The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard to be developed by ANI is estimated to cost more than $30 billion over the next decade, with a peak construction workforce of over 4,000. By providing safe, secure and uninterrupted access into the precinct, we’re setting the foundations for the shipyard’s next century of capability.
“This project reflects the strength of South Australia’s engineering and construction sector. Installing 110 locally supplied girders and laying more than 13,000 tonnes of asphalt in just over a year is an extraordinary achievement, and it demonstrates what can be delivered when industry and government work together with purpose,” said Andrew.
The new road was officially opened by South Australian Minister for Defence & Space Industries Chris Picton MP who said this project is an important investment in enabling infrastructure.
“This is the first step in the transformation of Osborne for the $30 billion AUKUS Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard program,” said Minister Picton.
“This link road over the rail corridor is already improving traffic flow in the area and will be critically important in the years to come. At least 4,000 skilled workers will design and build the yard, while 5,500 direct jobs will be created to support submarine production.
“I would like to thank the local community and project partners for their understanding and ongoing support as the Lefevre Peninsula undergoes significant upgrades in the years ahead.”
South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Joe Szakacs acknowledged the significance of the project, “Our Government welcomes ANI’s delivery of these important works to establish Eurimbla Way.”
“This investment complements the significant work the South Australian Government is already undertaking and will be accelerating as we prepare the Lefevre Peninsula for AUKUS.”
The road has been officially named Eurimbla Way in honour of Eurimbla, the first vessel built and launched at Osborne in 1921.
ANI led the naming process, inviting employees and local precinct users to suggest names that reflected maritime heritage and local history. The winning idea came from ANI Project Manager, Rebecca Bartley, who proposed the name Eurimbla for the ship’s role in shaping Osborne’s early industrial identity and the shipyard’s reputation for innovation and skilled workmanship.
Andrew continued, “Importantly, Eurimbla Way connects our future to our past. Naming the road after Eurimbla, the first vessel built and launched at Osborne in 1921, honours the legacy of innovation and skilled workmanship that has defined this precinct for more than a century. Contemporary reporting at the time praised Eurimbla as, ‘the best ship ever turned out by an Australian yard’, and this is a reminder that the values that shaped Osborne then are the same values driving Australia’s submarine enterprise today”.
The delivery of Eurimbla Way has been a collaborative effort across government and industry, with significant contributions from construction company, ACCIONA, and lead designers, SMEC. The Australian Submarine Agency provided overarching program leadership and coordination, helping to maintain momentum on critical enabling infrastructure for Australia’s nuclear‑powered submarine program. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport was a key state government partner, and the City of Port Adelaide Enfield was instrumental in coordinating aspects of the road’s delivery, including supporting the road‑naming process.
ANI also acknowledges the cooperation and patience of the local precinct community throughout construction, recognising their support as essential as the precinct continues to grow.
“Eurimbla Way is one of the first visible signs of the transformation underway at Osborne, and we’re incredibly grateful to our local precinct community for their support throughout construction. As the shipyard grows, this new connection will help ensure the precinct remains safe, efficient and accessible for the thousands of people who will work here in the years ahead,” concluded Andrew.
