Highways to heal: See the full list of South Australian country roads currently being upgraded

Your next road trip might be a lot smoother, as more than 400km of country roads across the state are being upgraded in a fast-tracked building blitz.

More than 400km of regional South Australian roads are being transformed amid a fast-tracked building blitz this month.

Fifteen separate safety projects, collectively worth more than $100m, are under way across regional SA on some of the state’s biggest roads, including the Stuart and Horrocks highways.

Several other projects have also started on the Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, the Limestone Coast and Kangaroo Island, said Deputy Prime Minister and federal Infrastructure Minister Michael McCormack.

“The majority of these projects have been fast-tracked thanks to the recently announced $104.6 million first tranche of the Road Safety Program for South Australia,” he said.

The Federal Government funds 80 per cent of the Road Safety Program, while the State Government funds the remaining 20 per cent.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the road safety projects across regional SA had been “fast-tracked”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

South Australian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Corey Wingard said the upgrades were targeted at numerous “high-priority” locations.

“The Road Safety Program funding is being tipped into shovel-ready projects to get the best bang for buck,” he said.

“It’s assisting with new road widening and shoulder sealing works on the Barrier Highway, on the southern approach to Mount Bryan and northern approach to Hallett, as well as asphalt rehabilitation works that have been under way between the two townships since March 2021.”

Canberra’s 80 per cent contribution was subject to a “use it or lose it” condition, Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Schott Buchholz said.

“The ‘use it or lose it’ provisions require states and territories to use their notionally allocated funds within a time frame, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions,” he said.

The revamped intersection at Daws Road, Springbank Road and Goodwood Road on Tuesday, April 27. Picture: Dean Martin

In the Adelaide metropolitan area, the new four-way intersection of Goodwood, Springbank and Daws Road opened for the first time last Friday. The project removed the notorious dog-leg that frequently caused delays, though final stages of the works are ongoing.

Earlier this month, works started on the Ovingham level crossing removal, which will involve Torrens Road being elevated over the existing rail line.

A major congestion-busting upgrade to the intersection of Portrush and Magill roads also started this month after compulsorily acquired properties were demolished last year.