[5] Following the 2018 South Australian state election, upgrades were announced for both ends of the Augusta Highway.

At the northern end, the Joy Baluch AM Bridge across Spencer Gulf at Port Augusta is to be duplicated to improve safety for both local and highway traffic.

At the southern end, the contract for detailed design and construction of the duplication of the highway through Port Wakefield and a grade-separated intersection with the Copper Coast Highway was let in March 2020.

Both projects were contracted to the Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Alliance (a consortium of CPB Contractors, Aurecon and GHD Group),[6][7] with the government announcing an overpass for the intersection with Copper Coast Highway in 2021.

[8] Construction on both projects commenced in late 2020, with completion expected in 2022;[6] the overpass to Copper Coast Highway opened in December 2021, four months ahead of schedule.