Belair Rd so damaged it could slide down the hill, former road safety expert warns
The road to Windy Point, Belair and Blackwood has deteriorated so much it’s in imminent danger of collapse and could cause a catastrophe, a former road safety expert says. SEE THE PHOTOS
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It’s the road to Adelaide’s most famous tourist lookout, but a former government safety auditor warns Belair Rd is a “catastrophe” waiting to happen.
Roger Hancock, who spent 30 years with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, said significant subsidence had caused major cracks in the road’s surface.
He said the water damage could result in part of the road, which leads to Windy Point and is one of the few roads from the plains to Belair and Blackwood, tumbling down the hillside.
“I’ve seen it happen at Gorge Rd and Norton Summit Rd and there is a potential here for a catastrophe with the road subsiding, creating a landslide down the hill,” Mr Hancock said.
“This road has deteriorated rapidly in the past two years and I’m raising this now with some urgency as I just don’t want to see (a landslide) happen again.”
Mr Hancock, who lives in Belair, said the situation was “extremely dangerous” for cyclists and motorcyclists, who had to navigate undulations, large cracks and giant potholes.
He said the 2km stretch of road was also “hazardous” for light vehicles.
“Thirty years ago I commissioned a geotech survey report that said it was imperative that all the cracks be sealed and depressions levelled to keep the water out,” Mr Hancock said.
“But it hasn’t been happening and it makes me extremely nervous that a disaster is not far away.”
Between 2013 and 2017, DPTI reported 15 casualty crashes on the section of road between the Windy Point hairpins and Barretts Rd.
There are no accident figures since 2017 but Mr Hancock said the road condition had deteriorated significantly since that time with increased traffic, including large numbers of heavy vehicles and buses, on the route.
RAA spokesman Charles Mountain said members had raised issues about road safety along several sections of Belair Rd.
“The main complaints involve a lack of maintenance on some sections where there is obvious cracking of the road surface and some rutting,’’ Mr Mountain said.
Bike SA spokesman Christian Haag said Belair Rd was on the radar because it was narrow with several sharp bends and “highly deteriorated”.
“The State Government and local councils do not invest in maintenance anywhere near the degree that they should,” Mr Haag said.
“This results in cyclists riding in a narrow corridor and leads to calls for cyclists to be banned from the road because it’s not safe.
“We would argue if you want to improve safety then motorists should be banned on the road — otherwise make it safe.
“But as usual we’re left with relying on everyone’s sensible and sound judgment of the road rules to make it work.”
Mitcham councillor Jane Bange said the road had “strong tourist potential”, and suggested a bikeway be created to allow cyclists to take a train to Belair and ride back down the hill.
“A bikeway would be expensive but could double up as an emergency vehicle access during a catastrophic bushfire,” Cr Bange said.
The poor condition of road is mentioned in the 2016 book Lonely Planet Epic Bike Rides of the World.
“We’re hurtling down Windy Point. Twisting, turning, dropping toward the ocean, There’s little opportunity to savour the view: this road isn’t as smooth, and a few potholes and cracks in the surface add an extra challenge to an already fast descent,” it reads.
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A DPTI spokesman said Belair Rd, between Windy Point Lookout and Springbank Rd, had been assessed as “requiring resurfacing” but gave no time frame for the work to begin.
“In the meantime, DPTI will continue to undertake any minor maintenance works, if required, to ensure the road pavement is kept in a safe condition for all road users,” the spokesman said.
He said asphalt patching had been completed in the past six months and a number of pavement defects had been identified, but did not believe they posed a hazard for road users.