Funding granted to upgrade ’dangerous’ Southern Ports Highway intersection after 20 years of community lobbying
It’s been 20 long years of lobbying by locals who say a fatal crash is “a breath away” but finally this notorious intersection will get a safety upgrade.
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A notorious intersection in SA’s South-East where a fatal crash is “only a breath away” will finally be upgraded after a 20-year fight by the local community.
The state government will provide the Limestone Coast’s Wattle Range Council with $400,000 to build a left-hand turning land at the Southern Ports Highway and Southend Access Road intersection.
The Southend community has been lobbying for the upgrade, fearing a fatal crash was inevitable if the junction was left unchanged.
Southend local and former member of the Southend Progress Association, Elizabeth Groom said it brought to an end a 20-years fight for changes.
She said drivers travelling along the highway often dangerously overtake vehicles turning on to Southend Access Road by illegally crossing over into the opposite lane – usually without slowing down.
“As there is a bend about 100m up the road, it’s always been a grave concern that one day there’ll be a head-on collision between a car overtaking a turning vehicle and one coming from the opposite direction,” Ms Groom said.
“A fatal accident is only a breath away – there’s been so many close calls.”
Barker MP Tony Pasin, who said he’d been pushing for the turning lane since 2020, said ongoing efforts by Wattle Range Council and the RAA to gain government funding for the turning lane were “constantly met by excuses” by the Department of Transport.
Mr Pasin said Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis had repeatedly insisted a left-hand turning lane was not needed and would cost much more than the $70,000 figure the Wattle Range Council and RAA estimated.
“Initially Minister Koutsantonis insisted it was a $600,000 project, opposed to the Wattle Range estimation of $70,000,” Mr Pasin said.
“More recently the Minister had the project estimated at $2m, opposed to council’s $320,000.”
But a spokesperson for Mr Koutsantonis said the slip lane was always going to cost $400,000 and the department had been working with the council on the solution.
They said the $2m figure referred to a different project that included a full remodelling of the junction.
Mr Koutsantonis said the Southend intersection had been a longstanding matter at the Country Cabinet and the state government was committed to reviewing it.
He said the site had previously unsuccessful in receiving funding “due to it having no crash history”.
Ms Groom said while it had taken a long time for the turning-lane to get the green light, residents from across the region would be happy to see it finally installed.
Works on the intersection are expected to take place later this year.
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Originally published as Funding granted to upgrade ’dangerous’ Southern Ports Highway intersection after 20 years of community lobbying
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