Election 2018: Parties lining up to voice their approval to upgrade SA’s worst road — Horrocks Hwy

It has been neglected for decades but now in a key battleground seat, the state of the Horrocks Highway has become a major issue.

• People’s forum: Who won the final leaders’ election debate?
• Welcome to the Adelaide sign stuck in the 90s
• Our evolving list: Master list of party election pledges
• State election 2018 HQ: Latest news, videos, maps and more

THE RAA has battled for years for a commitment to fix the deadly Horrocks Highway, and this week the purse stings have been prised open as political parties seek votes in the knife-edge seat of Frome.

Liberal challenger Kendall Jackson and independent MP Geoff Brock both backed an upgrading of what motorists have named the worst road in SA.

Liberal candidate Kendall Jackson

Independent MP Geoff Brock

There were 74 crashes resulting in injury on the 90km stretch from Gawler to Clare between 2012 to 2016, causing 109 casualties and four deaths.

Mr Brock said he would make the upgrading a condition of his vote if he held the balance of power.

“We now have three major parties in there, the SA Best, Liberal and Labor parties, and if I have the opportunity in the coming election, the No. 1 priority for me will be the reconstruction of the Horrocks Hwy,” he said.

HORROCKS HIGHWAY — ‘WORST ROAD IN SA’

Opposition transport spokesman David Pisoni added the Liberal Party’s commitment to the project on Wednesday, saying: “Getting started on upgrading the Horrocks Hwy will be a priority of a Marshall Liberal government.”

SA Best, which is not contesting the seat but may hold the balance of power with Mr Brock, also this week backed the upgrade.

The RAA has been pushing for a $126 million upgrade between Gawler and Clare, but government has committed only to a “long-term” plan.

A poll of the RAA’s 700,000 members has ranked the highway the worst regional road in the state.

RAA general manager of engagement Penny Gale said the motoring organisation “is encouraged that the Liberals, Mr Brock and SA Best agree a major highway upgrade is a priority’’.

“Without improved road conditions, the state’s agriculture, tourism and wine businesses cannot continue to grow the state’s economy and increase jobs,” she said.

Labor has not changed its long-term commitment to an upgrade, including spending $3.5 million in the current financial year.