A provider of motoring services and insurance has welcomed the State Government’s funding commitment to a number of the riskiest roads in South Australia – a move which it said will not only improve safety and regional connectivity, but also improve tourism.
RAA senior manager for road safety Charles Mountain said it was pleasing to see that $305 million had been committed for the duplication of Main South Road between Seaford and Sellicks Beach, as it was the highest ranked on RAA’s Risky Roads list.
“Traffic volumes have been steadily increasing along this route as the urban sprawl has moved into areas such as Seaford and Aldinga, and we know from our Risky Roads campaign that road users feel it needs to be upgraded to meet demand,” he said.
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A commitment to increase the road maintenance budget by $13 million to $136 million was also deemed good news for road users.
“We will be looking to see a substantial portion of that funding committed to regional roads, as our members have continually told us they’re concerned about the deteriorating condition of those roads,” Mountain noted.
Other risky roads identified by RAA which will receive funding include Port Wakefield Road at four locations between Dry Creek and Lower Light, along with pre-Budget announcements for upgrades to Blackwood Roundabout and Oaklands Rail Crossing.
“We’re also pleased with the Government’s announcement it will upgrade the intersection of Springbank Road, Goodwood Road and Daws Road as it will reduce delays at what is currently an inefficient intersection,” Mountain said.
RAA also lauded the state government for including two major infrastructure projects in the budget – a move it hopes the federal government will also make.
“For decades we have kept the pressure on both State and Federal Governments to upgrade the entire length of South Road, so it’s good to see provisions have been made to progress the section between Pym St and Regency Road,” said Mountain.
“The electrification of the Gawler train line is another major project that’s been on the cards for many years, so it would be great to see this progressed to improve this part of the public transport network.”
The motoring group was disappointed, however, that no commitment was made for a speed camera commissioner for South Australia, as it reiterated its importance in reviewing “both existing safety cameras and any applications for a new camera to ensure they are operating accurately and reliably” in the state.
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