Concerns for The Barn staff safety leads to a review of Clarke Road speed limit

Drivers “flooring it”, a major intersection and a busy restaurant entrance make this otherwise quiet country road a recipe for disaster according to a local business owner.

It may be a quiet 800m stretch but this country road is an accident waiting to happen according to its neighbours and now the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) will review its speed limit.

Kent Comley, manager of The Barn dining institution said the unsigned Clarke Rd is a dangerous combination of speed, a major intersection and late night traffic.

Few residents, including slow moving horse floats use OB Flat Rd on the outskirts of Mount Gambier – but he feared a collision was inevitable at the restaurant’s service entrance.

Located around 30m from the 110km/hr Glenelg River Rd, the entrance is used by The Barn staff finishing their shifts between 10pm and midnight.

Staff and customers leave The Apple Farm around the same time.

The Barn's Kent Comley has requested the speed limit at Clarke Road, OB Flat reduced to 60 or 80km/hr. Picture: Jessica Ball

Concerned for the safety of his 70 staff, Mr Comley wrote to the District Council of Grant requesting the speed limit be reduced to 60 or 80km/hr.

“I am writing to request and urgent review and change of the speed limit on Clarke Rd in the interests of averting a potential serious accident,” the letter reads.

“We have observed that there are a large number of road users who are ‘flooring’ it up the quiet stretch of road oblivious to the number of other cars entering the road.”

Mr Comley said it was lucky there had been no accidents and similar roads in the area had already been reduced to 80km/hr including Whitehead Rd and OB Flat Rd.

Kent Comley, manager at The Barn wants to see the speed limit reduced on Clarke Rd. Picture: Jessica Ball

“There’s going to be an accident,” he said.

“We’re concerned for people’s safety and there’s no need for it to be 100km/h zone.

“It’s only an 800m road, to get up to 100 you’ve got to plant the foot but that’s what some people seem to do.”

The speed limit was considered at Monday night’s Grant Council meeting with a report recommending the council write DIT and the Minister Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard in support of Mr Comley’s request.

Works manger Adrian Schutz removed a second recommendation requesting further investigation into extending the 80km/hr zone on Riddoch Hwy from north of Pinehall Ave to north of Worrolong Rd, saying it was incorrect.

Mr Schutz answered questions from councillors Megan Dukalskis and Brad Mann regarding how many residents would impacted by the proposed change and if they had been consulted.

“There’s probably only two or three properties,” he said.

“According to the letter writer they have actually consulted with it and are in agreeance with it.

“It’s only an 800m section, if its reduced to 80km/hr it will probably only take an extra 5 seconds.”

Council voted in favour of referring the issue to DIT which will assess the road before deciding if the speed should be reduced or remain a 100km zone.