The Wattle Range Mayor says it is hoped work can soon begin on the Penola bypass after the South Australian Government reinforced its commitment to the project.

The Government’s 30-year transport plan, released this week, sets the bypass as a short-term priority.

The plan also includes a proposal to duplicate the Dukes Highway.

Mayor Peter Gandolfi says the Penola bypass is ready to begin.

“Council’s role in the project was to acquire the corridor for the bypass and the State Government has made a commitment in the past and now has reinforced that they will fund stage one which is half the bypass and we’ll be seeking funding from the Federal Government for stage two,” he said.

“The project is ready to go, so the work has been done, there’s been a drawn-out court process appealing council’s acquisition of the corridor but that’s cleared, it’s ready to proceed, so we’d hope that the funding will be made available for stage one very shortly.”