State government shortlists options to address safety on South-Eastern Freeway

Several horror smashes and three roundtables later, the state government has released a list of “options” that will require “further investigation” to fix the notorious freeway.

Another list of possible fixes for the notoriously dangerous South-Eastern Freeway has been released by the state government – with no promises to implement them and no specific timelines.

Following a “third and final” roundtable in as many months, Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis released a list of ideas that would “require further investigation to determine their feasibility”.

“The previous two roundtables and engagement with industry representatives, along with feedback from the community, have provided vital insights into possible measures to make the down-track of the South Eastern Freeway safer for everyone,” he said.

The ideas have all been flagged before, including a third arrester bed, increased driver education, new signage and reduced speeds.

“From this engagement, sixteen proposals have been identified as having the potential to reduce the likelihood and consequence of an out-of-control heavy vehicle on the Freeway, preventing a repeat of some of the terrifying incidents we’ve seen recently” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“Now it goes through the processes like any recommendation, any inquiry, we’ll be looking at which ones we’ll be implementing.

“Some of the short-term options could be delivered within months, while others would be

longer term options that will require more investigation to ensure they are feasible.”

SA Road Transport Association executive director Steve Shearer said no driver misjudges the hill twice.

“The majority of drivers who are making those mistakes are on their first run down the hill, they’re from interstate and they’re not aware of the hill,” he said.

“Every other hill in the country you go down a bit, then you go up a bit and that slows you down — that doesn’t happen here.

“It’s the most difficult problem we’ve had to deal with in my 30 years … what we think is needed is for quite a few of the 16 final options to actually get up and be implemented as a package.”

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

A runaway sewage truck collided with three cars at the bottom of the freeway in 2014, killing two people and seriously injuring others.

The speed limit on the down-track was dropped in the following days to 90km/h, down from 100km/h, and to 60km/h for trucks and buses.

There’s been several crashes since including another horror smash in September when a truck smashed into seven cars and a bus.

Since that crash, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, SA Police and the state government have met three times to discuss additional safety measures.

“This is a complex challenge and there is no single solution that will prevent all incidents from happening on all occasions,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

The Transport Department is also undertaking a study into a Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass that will connect the state from the north and west to the southeast, reducing the need for trucks to travel on the freeway.