Main South Road to be subject to $80 million revamp to improve safety and avoid dangerous driving

A dangerous stretch of South Australian road that sparked safety controversy last year is set to receive a a major facelift.

A dangerous stretch of SA road on the Fleurieu Peninsula that sparked controversy last year will get a multimillion-dollar upgrade to reduce fatalities, injuries and unsafe driving.

The SA government revealed exclusively to the Sunday Mail that Main South Rd between Myponga and Yankalilla would get an $80m upgrade, with $40m over five years to be included in the 2024-25 budget that will be handed down next month.

The federal government will fund the remaining $40m.

Improvements will include the construction of two new overtaking lanes, targeted curve easing and road widening – including for narrow bridges and culverts.

Dashcam footage of a terrifying close call between a truck carrying live sheep and a car on Main South Rd, Wattle Creek, on November 3, 2024. Picture: Supplied

The driver of the vehicle said it was “one of the scariest moments” of his life. Picture: Supplied

Main South Rd is a key route for about 4900 vehicles a day connecting heavy vehicles, commuters and tourists from Adelaide to destinations along the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Between 2019 and 2023, there were 16 crashes, including one fatality and five people seriously injured.

In 2024, five crashes resulted in four lives lost and two serious injuries.

In November 2024, two women from Queensland were killed after a truck collided with three cars just 400m away from where shocking dashcam footage revealed a “terrifying” near miss involving a cyclist.

An oncoming motorist was almost hit by an impatient sheep truck driver attempting to overtake a 4WD that had slowed for a pedal trike rider in the same lane.

The driver of the vehicle almost hit by an oncoming live sheep truck – who wished to remain anonymous – called for a bike ban on the road alongside members of the SA Road Transport Association.

MP Tom Koutsantonis said locals had been calling for upgrades for a long time.. Picture: NewsWire / Tim Joy

Another Main South Rd crash scene on November 4, 2024 where two Queensland woman died. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

“I never expected something so terrifying – seeing that truck coming at me was surreal,” the driver said.

The project is expected to support approximately 125 full time equivalent jobs per year over the construction period.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said locals had been calling for improvements for a long time and the upgrade would make travel safer as any lives lost on the road were too many.

“Improving the driving conditions and adding overtaking lanes on this key route to and from the Fleurieu Peninsula will reduce driver frustration and help prevent risky behaviour that can lead to tragedy,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the federal and state partnered project would help with the “long-term vision” to bring the lives lost on SA roads down to zero by 2050.

“The Fleurieu Peninsula is a popular part of our state, and we want to ensure South Australians reach their destination safely,” Mr Mullighan said.

The investment follows an election commitment by the state government to construct three overtaking lanes on Main South Rd between Normanville and Cape Jervis.

That stretch will receive $31.8 million to develop the new lanes to ease travel for up to 2200 vehicles a day.