Five new intersection upgrades have been proposed for McLaren Vale

Upgrades have been proposed for five notorious McLaren Vale intersections after fatal crashes in the area.

Radar-equipped flashing road signs are set to be installed at notorious intersections across McLaren Vale, including one where a promising young netballer was killed in 2021.

Two fatal crashes across the area have sparked upgraded warning signs under a $5m project to improve road safety at 21 intersections across the region.

The five intersections would be equipped with Rural Junction Active Warning Systems (RJAWS) technology, road signs with radars that activate a flashing warning light, Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were said.

The warning lights start flashing as drivers approach to alert them to upcoming intersections.

“For vehicles approaching at speed on the minor road, the RJAWS system will activate the stop/give way signs, causing the edges to flash in bright red,” Ms Were said.

“This additional warning signal prompts the driver to slow down, reducing the risk of collisions.”

Ms Were said the upgrade was sparked by two “tragic fatal crashes in the area”.

In 2021, Onkaparinga Council began an audit all the intersections of Main Road between McLaren Vale and Willunga including at Malpas and Binney roads as well as McMurtrie and Johnston roads.

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

The safety audit led to the council and state government installing enhanced warning signage at 14 intersections.

It is now seeking community feedback on more significant upgrades that will tackle seven intersections with a high level of crash trauma.

An example of the RJAWS flashing light warning system.

Other rural intersections across the state with a history of vehicles overshooting or failing to give way could be upgraded if the new warning system is successful in the Onkaparinga area.

The five new RJAWS are proposed to be installed at:

• Seaview Road and Coppermine Road

• Olivers Road, Aldinga Road and California Road

• Almond Grove Road, Main Road and Malpas Road

• Binney Road, Malpas Road and California Road

• Bayliss Road and Communication Road

Meanwhile, a stop sign at the intersection of Bayliss Road and Communication Road in Tatachilla could be moved because the majority of cars travel along Communication Road and are forced to stop – while fewer vehicles travel along Bayliss Road but have priority.

A spokesperson for the council said no road closures were required for the RJAWS upgrades.

“The only impact to drivers will be during the installation of the footings and sign install, which should only take a day or two and will require traffic control to reduce speed,” they said.

“In some cases a traffic lane may need to be closed with traffic controllers on lolly pops.”

All upgrades are scheduled to be completed by June 2025.