Why this road in Adelaide’s south needs to be four lanes: Community leaders say duplication is needed
COMMUNITY leaders are calling for a section of a major road in Adelaide’s south to be duplicated, labelling planned new safety measures as simply a “Band-Aid” fix. Tell us what you think.
COMMUNITY leaders are behind mounting calls to make Main South Rd four lanes following a fatal crash at Aldinga last week.
Resident and business groups, along with Onkaparinga councillors, say duplication of the road is needed to make the road safer between Seaford and Aldinga.
Littlehampton man Warwick Hirvonen died after his ute collided with an SUV along Main South Rd, at the intersection of Little Rd, on Wednesday, October 26.
The State Government has earmarked an $11 million upgrade of the road, between Old Coach and Malpas roads, which will include a roundabout, speed limit reductions from 80km/h to 70km/h and road widening.
Aldinga Bay Residents Association Kevin Hutton said the State Government was putting in “Band-Aid measures” along the road.
“For traffic flow, we definitely need two lanes either way,” Mr Hutton said.
“Reduction of speed limits does not solve the problem of traffic flow and everything else, it just leads to more and more people getting toey because they can’t get to where they want to go.”
Aldinga Bay Business and Tourism Association secretary Martin Howells backed the duplication of the road.
“Many businesses are concerned regarding accidents and fatalities and hope the State Government aren’t short-sighted in their plans,” Mr Howells said.
“We are planning a public meeting to pressure the government into rethinking their future strategies regarding the roadworks.”
Wine Coast Ward Cr Hazel Wainwright backed the push.
“They need to do a four-lane highway all the way down to Sellicks because it would limit the number of accidents there,” Cr Wainwright said.
“It would improve safety because the people who are really fearful of the road drive really slowly, which is even more unsafe, and there are so many pot holes.”
Their calls come a fortnight after Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg accused the State Government of failing to deliver a road network to cope with the southern suburbs’ growing population, while prioritising projects in other parts of Adelaide.
RAA road safety senior manager Charles Mountain said while duplication of the road “would be nice”, there was not enough traffic to justify it.
Mr Mountain backed the $11 million upgrade mooted for the road.
“Part of that upgrade will be looking at putting in wire barriers to have a physical barrier between opposing traffic, thus protecting it which is important,” Mr Mountain said.
The Transport Department says duplicating Main South Rd at Aldinga is “not economically viable” due to low traffic volumes.