Road safety will be improved on several rural roads within the Limestone Coast with a $12.1 million package of works to be undertaken by Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd, funded by the Australian and South Australian governments.

The works are scheduled to commence on Monday, 2 March and include shoulder sealing, roadside hazard protection and delineation improvements. 

The Rural Roads Safety Package will include the delivery of the following works:

  • 55 kilometres of shoulder sealing on Clay Wells Road, between Southern Ports Highway and Callendale Road, including seven bridge barrier replacements.
  • 4 kilometres of shoulder sealing on Frances Road, just south of Bordertown, funded by the National Blackspot program.
  • 16 kilometre of shoulder sealing on Carpenter Rocks Road, between Burrungule Road junction and Mount Gambier, with four kilometres of this work funded by the National Blackspot Program.
  • On Riddoch Highway (Bay Road), between Mount Gambier and Port MacDonnell, works will include the installation of an 800 millimetre wide centreline median between Kilsby Road and Allendale, audio tactile linemarking, minor shoulder seal widening, road side hazard protection and an upgrade of the Bay Road / Mt Salt Road junction to provide a right turn lane into Mt Salt Road.

The works on the Carpenter Rocks Road, Riddoch Highway and Clay Wells Road will also include new line marking, replacement of guide posts and improved delineation.

Works will be undertaken from 7.00am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, with lane and speed restrictions as required. Motorists are advised to take extra care when workers are on site and observe speed and lane restrictions when travelling through the area. .

These safety improvements are in support of the State Government’s commitment to raise the speed limit to 110 km/h on Clay Wells Road, Carpenter Rocks Road and Riddoch Highway, through the $70 million Regional Roads Projects Safety Improvements Program.

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP, said he was glad to see the works getting underway following the Federal funding component of 80 per cent being brought forward.

“Regional road upgrades are vital to increasing productivity and safety. The Morrison Government is making these upgrades a priority by bring this funding forward,” Mr Pasin said.

“I’ve been strong advocate for our local roads and while the State Government made a commitment to raise the speed limit back to 110 km per hour, I’m pleased that our Federal Government has stepped up to help fund upgrades to these state roads,” Mr Pasin said.

Member for MacKillop, Nick McBride MP, has welcomed the start of the safety upgrades, saying the community has been calling for speed limits to be re-instated.

“These works are an important step in the process of increasing speed limits on roads that were reduced to 100km/hr under the former Labor Government.”

“Improving the safety and quality of these roads is imperative to country road users. Our regional communities rely on, and deserve,  safe road networks, and I look forward to the upgrades being completed.” Works are expected to be completed late 2020, weather permitting, and the final speed increase will be signposted as projects are completed.