RAA reveals the roads SA motorists rate as the worst in the state
SA drivers have identified the state's worst country roads and the RAA wants up to $1 billion spent to fix them, as well as redesigns of congested city intersections.
SOUTH Australian drivers have identified the state's worst country roads and the RAA wants up to a billion dollars spent to fix them, as well as major redesigns of congested city intersections.
Having compiled 4000 road nominations from its Risky Road survey last year, the state's peak motoring body has released the data ahead of the state election to pressure the major parties to find the money for upgrades it says are necessary for both safety and commercial reasons.
The metropolitan component of the RAA's agenda includes the building of flyover bridges on four major city intersections to alleviate congestion and the widening of Greenhill Rd.
The substandard condition of the country roads identified by drivers significantly increases the risk of crashes causing injury or death, it warns.
Four are on the Yorke Peninsula and problems include vegetation, crumbling road shoulders, narrow width, faint line marking, poor surfaces and lack of overtaking lanes.
More: The new worst city spot for car crashes
To highlight the issue, the RAA is using a Top Gear TV series-style campaign featuring V8 Supercar driver Tim Slade, who it filmed driving the Kulpara to Bute road on Yorke Peninsula, one of eight identified as a priority for repair.
RAA public affairs general manager Penny Gale said the organisation would put a range of issues on the agenda for the March 15 election.
"We receive consistent feedback from members telling us that a number of our rural roads are in dire need of repair, our inner city roads are becoming more congested, not enough is being done to help our learner drivers become safer drivers and public transport isn't up to scratch,'' she said.
The RAA ran a Risky Road survey last year and, of the almost 4000 nominations it received, it investigated and identified the eight in most urgent need of repair, at an estimated cost of $252 million.
All but one need lane widening and shoulder widening.
As well as four roads on Yorke Peninsula, the other worst roads are Eyre Peninsula's Tod Highway, RM Williams Way between Clare and Spalding, the Strathalbyn to Goolwa road and the Karoonda Highway, through the Mallee.
The RAA argues the money can come from the expected $750 million raised this financial year by State Government motoring fees and taxes such as registration, stamp duty and traffic fines.
Four city intersection "grade separations" also known as flyovers or overpasses, and the widening of Greehill Rd would cost an estimated $650m-$850m.
More: RAA starts black-spot campaign
The amount of funding invested in SA's regional roads "has been on a steady decline for too long'' and in the past five years, rural road funding has fallen to a point where only 16 per cent of the State Government's total road funding is allocated to country roads - the lowest amount of road investment on rural roads since 2006/07, the RAA maintains.
"The needs and priorities of the South Australian community should be taken into account when deciding where best to spend community money," Ms Gale said.
"Our priorities represent the feedback from our members. These roads have been left to deteriorate and are below a minimum acceptable standard.''
She said poor road conditions were not only a safety issue but also affected the state's economic productivity, a view shared by the SA Freight Council.
Council chief executive officer Neil Murphy said rundown rural roads added significant costs to doing business.
"First there is the higher maintenance cost due to damage done driving on poor road surfaces, then the added running time and wage costs because the road is not safe enough to do the speed limit and then the time and distance added if you have to take an alternative route,'' Mr Murphy said.
The RAA met Opposition spokeswoman Vickie Chapman yesterday to discuss its pre-election wish list.
More: Cash for our worst roads?
"The Liberal team will be looking at it closely,'' Ms Chapman said.
"Bad roads are not just a safety problem, they add to vehicle maintenance and freight costs which means increased household bills.
"If elected, a Marshall Liberal government will be focusing on spending the money the state government has more efficiently.
"Motorists already pay plenty of taxes and charges, we need to better target how we spend that money.
"There is no point in talking about billion-dollar roads if we don't have a quality network to connect them."
The RAA also will be meeting state Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis, but it has already passed its rural road research and wish list to the Government.
Premier Jay Weatherill said the RAA's proposals "are being considered by the Government'' as part of its own transport plan bringing together priorities for "trams, buses, rail, roads, ports and cycling".
"The final plan will outline future transport infrastructure needs and build on our multibillion-dollar upgrade of our public transport system,'' he said.
"Delivering this smart, well-planned and user-focused transport system will enable SA to grow and prosper while remaining one of the most livable places in the world.''