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New call for highway improvements

Posted on May 8, 2009, 8:08am

Wattle Range Council Mayor Mark Braes has welcomed the RAA’s call for increased investment in South East highways.

However, he said one of the crucial transport projects listed in the report for the region — the Penola bypass — was now subject to three Supreme Court actions.

The RAA has launched its Towards 2020 assessment of critical South Australian transport corridors, detailing improvements needed to achieve higher safety and efficiency standards.

The Princes Highway received a ranking of just four out of 10 with the need to increase the seal width, add seven overtaking lanes, install roadside barriers and rehabilitate pavement by 2014.

Junction upgrades were also called for in the longer term.

Meanwhile, the Dukes Highway received a score of six out of 10, with the report calling for three super rest areas, pavement rehabilitation and median barrier treatment in fatigue zones by 2014, along with staged duplication of the route beyond 2020.

The Riddoch Highway received a rating of five, due to the need for eight additional overtaking lanes, installation of roadside barriers, median barrier treatment in fatigue zones and the Penola bypass by 2014.

Duplication of the Riddoch Highway was called for beyond 2020.

Mr Braes said it was well-known substantial investment was needed for the region’s highways, with overtaking lanes between Kingston and Meningie a priority, although the Princes Highway was generally in good condition.

“The road certainly brings lots of Melbourne to Adelaide traffic with motorists who want to hug the coast,” he said, adding the route added activity to areas such as Beachport.

He said the Riddoch Highway was heavily utilised, particularly for freight and business traffic.

“There is an expectation business and freight activity will increase over time, along with pressure on the roads,” he said.

Mr Braes said council had pushed for years to remove trucks from the main street of Penola and while construction was under way for the Millicent heavy vehicle detour, the bypass was now subject to court action by two landholders and the Penola and District Residents and Ratepayers Association.

“The proceedings seek an injunction against the council to prevent the Penola Bypass Road project from proceeding,” Mr Braes said.

“Council is of the view the processes undertaken for that purpose are robust and will stand up to scrutiny, however it is now for the court to make a determination in that regard.”

He said the concept of a broader bypass to include Coonawarra had been raised various times and had merit, but not financial support, leaving council to take the more timely approach of pursuing the southern section of the western Penola bypass.

Mr Braes said that while this would require a section of the Penola Commonage land, which was subject to legal action, only 4.24 hectares of the 250ha area (1.69pc) would be required.

“The vast majority of land will remain available for community use,” he said.

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