People power led to $305 million Main South Rd upgrade

Main South Rd Action Group chairman Craig Curtis had the families using Main South Rd at the forefront of his mind when he began campaigning for the notorious stretch of road to be duplicated last year.

Main South Road Action Group vice chairwoman Cheryl Batic and chairman Craig Curtis on the section of road near Aldinga that the State Government has announced will be duplicated. Picture: Mark Brake

THE families using Main South Rd were at the forefront of Craig Curtis’ mind when he began campaigning for the notorious stretch of road to be duplicated last year.

“My daughter, my four grandkids are using that road every day and it is getting worse and worse and the driver behaviour is getting worse,” the 56-year-old said.

“I started doing it for all of the young families – we don’t want to lose another son or daughter in the south.”

As chairman of the Main South Rd Action Group, Mr Curtis successfully campaigned alongside Onkaparinga councillor Hazel Wainwright to have the road added to the RAA’s Risky Road list.

It was a desperate plea to the State Government from the Port Willunga man and the group’s thousands of supporters to have the road duplicated to make it safer for motorists.

So last week’s news that the government would spent $305 million to duplicate the road between Seaford and Sellicks Beach was something he never thought he would see.

“The government has come forward and said they got it wrong and it needs to be done and they are going to do it,” Mr Curtis said.

“It’s great and it’s a great win for the community and the way they stuck together and hung together really makes you proud to be part of that community.”

The first stage is expected to start in two years on a 10km section of the road between Griffiths Drive, Seaford and Aldinga Beach Rd.

Funding will be allocated for the project – expected to create about 165 jobs – in the government’s Mid-Year Budget Review.

More than 7000 people signed a petition to have the road added to the list and subsequently duplicated.

There have been 77 crashes between 2012 and 2016 along the stretch of road, with one fatality and 126 serious injuries.

Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said it was a win for people power, saying the community’s hard work would ultimately lead to saving lives.

“It’s a huge success,” Ms Rosenberg said.

“I take my hat off to them, I think they’ve worked extremely hard.”

Ms Rosenberg suggested the project had likely been earmarked for 2019 to give the State Government a chance to secure federal funding.

She said the community and council would need to work together to help secure that extra funding.

“The attitude that we’ve had in the community group (is that) it’s better to do it right than do it now,” Ms Rosenberg said.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the upgrade would boost tourism and cut travel time for motorists.

“We know motorists who travel this section of Main South Rd each day have been eagerly awaiting this upgrade,” Mr Mullighan said.

“Stage one of the duplication of the 10km section of Main South Rd will improve traffic flow and travel times, particularly benefiting those driving in peak hours.

“The duplication will also significantly increase capacity and safety on this important road, improve access for the local community and support continued growth in tourism.”