GRANT District Council will seek blackspot funding for one the district’s most notorious intersections.
Council will lodge an application for State Government funding to improve the safety of the junction of Ruwoldt and Yahl roads at Yahl, which is seven kilometres from the outskirts of Mount Gambier.
Council works manager Adrian Schutz said the intersection had been identified as a safety risk for motorists.
“There is a tendency for vehicles to travel through the intersection without stopping,” Mr Schutz said.
He said there had been a number of accidents at the junction following some people travelling through stop signs.
“We could do something that we did similar at the junction of Square Mile and Yahl roads,” Mr Schutz told a recent council meeting.
“There are signs there, but people are continuing to go through that intersection.”
He said a road safety audit had already been completed to support the funding application.
Speaking at the meeting, Cr Julie Reis questioned if there were street lights at the junction.
“There are quite a few intersections that could do with some lighting at night,” the elected member said.
Mr Schutz said a number of lights had been placed at some major junctions, including the Glenburnie Saleyards intersection.
The blackspot application comes as the State Government calls for blackspot funding application nominations from councils.
The program is part of the government’s commitment to improve road safety and reduce road crashes and trauma.
It particularly targets safety improvements to roads with proven crash history or high-risk locations.
The $4.8m funding pool will be allocated in the 2019/20 financial year.
Meanwhile, Mr Schutz told the recent council meeting the outdoor works crew had completed the 2017/18 financial year’s road work program before the July 1 deadline.
Crews this month have been re-sheeting an 800m section of Sunnybrae Road and work was progressing on the highly anticipated “Waterfront” project at Port MacDonnell.
The wet weather has held up some of the works, which are under way along the foreshore near the jetty precinct.
Council has also given the green light for rolling road closures during the 2018 Tour of the Great South Coast cycling race at Port MacDonnell on Thursday, August 16.
A portion of Sea Parade will be closed to accommodate the start and finish line, as well as presentations.
With a stunning backdrop of the Port MacDonnell coastline, a field of leading riders will participate in a 128.5km trek – starting and finishing at Port MacDonnell.
The tour is expected to attract around 150 competitors from Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand.
