RAA has welcomed the $100 million windfall announced in today’s State Budget delivery which will be spent on improving roads across the State.
RAA General Manager Public Affairs, Penny Gale says all South Australians deserve safer roads and this funding will go a long way towards achieving that.
“As was highlighted in our Risky Roads campaign, RAA members want money spent on roads,” said Ms Gale.
“The issues raised with the roads nominated were around design matters including a lack of overtaking lanes, traffic signals and poor signage.
“The projects outlined by the State Government today tick a lot of those boxes and will create safer roads for all road users.”
Of the projects to receive funding, the South Eastern Freeway and the intersection of Sudholz and North East Road were both identified by our members in our survey as ‘risky’.
“It’s great to see the worst intersection from our survey, the Britannia Roundabout, will receive a major overhaul,” said Ms Gale.
“It’s an intersection that has been troubling local road users for a long time and we think this new design provides a good solution.”
Overall, RAA is pleased to see road safety given this high level of attention from the State Government.
“Safer roads mean fewer crashes and a reduction in road trauma across South Australia, which can only be seen as good news for the entire community,” said Ms Gale
“It also has flow on effects, placing fewer burdens on our health care system and boosting the local economy.”
RAA looks forward to working with the State Government, the Motor Accident Commission, and police to allocate the remaining funds to further road safety initiatives.
“There are plenty of other metro and regional roads that could do with a funding injection,” said Ms Gale.
“We’ll take our direction from the roads identified by our members in the Risky Roads survey, including a number of regional roads.”
Other transport-related projects in today’s budget to receive positive backing from RAA include:
- $152.4 million over three years to electrify the Gawler line from Adelaide to Dry Creek.
- $63 million over four years, including $31.5 million from the Commonwealth, for a Tonsley Park public transport project. Work includes a partial duplication of the Tonsley rail line to allow trains every 15 minutes; rebuilding the Clovelly Park Station with a Park and Ride centre; rebuilding the Tonsley Station to connect rail and bus services; a new bus interchange at the South Rd and Sturt Rd intersection; and extending Flinders Drive to Sturt Rd to connect buses to Tonsley Park.
- $165.7 million for electrifying the Noarlunga rail line.
- $20 million to begin the five-year, $896 million project to upgrade the 3.7km stretch of South Rd between Torrens Rd and the River Torrens, including underpasses at Grange and Port roads and a rail overpass.
RAA has also welcomed the savings outlined for motorists in relation to a $100 drop in car registration fees.
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