South Australian drivers are furious after a section of a major highway in the state’s south-east developed deep cracks, leaving them “dodging potholes” fewer than six months after the road was upgraded.
Key points:
- Heavy rain causes cracks and potholes along a section of the Southern Ports Highway
- The road was upgraded in May
- Residents say the “dangerous” condition of the road “is a fatal accident waiting to happen”
Asphalt resurfacing works were undertaken along a 2.5km length of the Southern Ports Highway, between Beachport and Millicent, in May of this year to correct the road shape and improve the overall condition.
The road required a further spray seal surfacing to be applied over the asphalt to waterproof the pavement, however weather conditions affected this.
The Department of Infrastructure said the “area experienced heavy rain before the surfacing could be applied and the continuing wet conditions had caused moisture to enter the pavement causing potholes”.
Further concerns were raised around the white lines not yet being painted — they should have been completed by August — and the speed limit still being capped at 80kph.
Heather Burdon, from the Beachport Community group, said it was not just the Southern Ports Highway — all the roads across the region were in poor condition.
“Potholes are continually appearing, huge chunks of bitumen and gravel continually flick up into vehicles causing dents, paint damage and broken windscreens,” she said.
“There are no edges to the road, just drop-offs. Numerous people have reported dented rims, tyres, shredded blowouts.
“It’s a fatal accident waiting to happen.”
Ms Burdon said it was not enough to keep fixing the issues when they arose — the Southern Ports Highway needed a complete overall.
“The road is way past its use by date. It was meant to last about 30 years and the Southern Ports Highway is definitely older than that,” she said.
She said the repairs should have been better planned and the weather should have been expected.
“Why would they be trying to do that sort of work In the south-east in May and June?
“It’s just dangerous,” she said.
“We have wildlife on our roads, we have a lot of heavy transport and you can’t always dodge a pothole.
“Sometimes you actually have to hit it [the wildlife] or you’re going to have a head-on.
“The only answer is that we need substantial amounts of money spent and new roads built.”
‘Complete breakdown’ of rural road system
Ms Burdon has been in contact with the department of transport over the issues.
“Instead of putting information out to the public as to what’s been going on, we’re the ones who are having to contact them all the time to get an update on what the hell’s happening,” she said.
Ms Burdon said the government should put more effort into fixing roads.
“I think they have to take and have a long, hard look at themselves and understand that accidents are happening because of the complete breakdown of our road system in regional areas,” she said.
Mayor of Wattle Range Council Des Noll said the solution was to invest more money into fixing regional roads.
He said the council was aware of the issues.
“It is a safety issue and we need to make sure that we’re conversing with the department of transport at all times, which we as a council, are doing, ” he said.
“I’m well aware of the potholes and frequently drive down that particular road and examine it myself.”
He said members of the community should report road concerns to the transport department’s website
The department said contractors were monitoring the road and patching holes, until the spray-sealing operation commenced at the end of October.
It apologised for the inconvenience caused to road users and urged the community to report road maintenance issues requiring immediate attention, to the Traffic Management Centre on 1800 018 313.
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