Onkaparinga Council commits to roadworks to improve Main Rd after death of Ivy-Rose Huges and Bernice Sternberg

A section of road that claimed the lives of a young netballer and a teacher will be improved following a council audit, including a guard railing and more signage.

Works on a stretch of road in the McLaren Vale will go ahead after two deaths at a dangerous intersection this year.

Onkaparinga Council will work with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport to improve road safety along Main Rd from McLaren Vale to Willunga following council’s audit of the road’s intersections.

Improvements already include new line marking and signage upgrades along the road, and will install guard railing along Malpas Rd, reflecting recommended actions the audit, which commenced in April.

The intersection saw fatal crashes in February and March, which claimed the lives of young netballer Ivy-Rose Hughes and local primary school teacher Bernice Sternberg.

19 year old netballer Ivy-Rose Hughes was killed in a motor accident at McLaren Vale earlier this year. Picture: Matrics Netball Club

McLaren Vale teacher Bernice Sternberg. Picture: Facebook

Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson said the audit and subsequent improvements were a positive step towards reducing fatal and serious injury crashes on the area’s roads.

“Two fatal crashes have occurred along the road this year, I can’t image how difficult this has been for the families involved and my sincere condolences go out to them,” she said.

Completed and upcoming road safety improvements resulting from the audit include

line marking to reduce approach speeds, enhanced warning signage, approximately 600m of guard railing to protect vehicles from the open drain on Malpas Rd, refreshing line marking and installing more prominent signage on the side roads of major intersections.

The intersection of Main Road and Malpas Road, Leon Bignell MP Member for Lawson at the site of the crash. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“While council’s audit found these intersections comply with safety standards and minimum road safety requirements, we’ve identified more improvements we can make,” Cr Thompson said.

“The upgrades we’ve already delivered with great support from DIT, and the improvements that will be completed soon, are a positive step toward achieving a rate of zero fatality and serious injury crashes on our roads.”