THE stretch of Riddoch Highway through Coonawarra’s wine strip has been labelled a potential “recipe for disaster” following the release of a new report by the state’s peak motorist advocacy group.
In its latest regional road report, the RAA identified the busy highway was in dire need for immediate improvement.
The investigation into the region’s road network exposed a number of safety concerns about the condition of a number of roads, including the Riddoch and Dukes highways, Lucindale Road and Kangaroo Flat Road.
RAA traffic engineer and report author Matthew Vertudaches said the combination of heavy freight traffic and the mixture of tourists along 17km section of the Riddoch Highway through Coonawarra “could be a recipe for disaster”.
The report recommends new overtaking lanes, right turn lanes and a review of the current 110kph speed limit.
Travelling the roads regularly, winery tour business owner Simon Meares believes lowering the speed limit along the popular section would increase road safety.
The Coonawarra Experience’s owner said motorists entering and exiting wineries would feel much safer if the speed limit was reduced to 80kph.
Mr Meares said during the long weekend, he witnessed a number of vehicles exiting cellar doors which were travelling at 60kph in the 110kph zone.
“I am aware this happens and look out for this but I am constantly looking at whoever is coming up behind me in the van,” Mr Meares said.
“It is nerve wracking and although I have people in the van enjoying themselves it can be quite stressful.”
Mr Meares believes along with a slower speed limit, more signage at the exits of cellar doors are required.
“We are up and down the highway all the time and the problem that we see is the speed limit signposts at the cellar doors,” he said.
“We think they need to be upgraded and stand out more, not necessarily at the cellar doors expense, but because they are all quite faded.”
The tour host said a limit of 90kph or slower should be sufficient enough to deem the winery strip as safe, yet said he understands the difficulties it may bring for freight companies.
“It is a difficult one with the continuous freight because we have agriculture, logging, everything that goes on the roads here,” Mr Meares said.
“I can understand the costings involved from the transport side of things but I definitely believe there is a safety angle.
“We have very narrow shoulders on the highway and people cannot do a great deal about that on the Coonawarra strip because of where the vineyards are.”
Mr Meares said other issues along the highway include motorists overtaking along straight sections of road, which he said posed safety issues for motorists exiting winery driveways.
“I have seen people needing to veer off quickly because of these types of decisions,” he said.
“There are also a lot of tourists who pull up on the side of the road and throw open their car doors.
“The bigger and busier the Coonawarra strip gets, the more need for lowering the speed limit there is.”
The RAA survey said safer cycling options along the highway should be in place to increase tourism within the region.
Penola resident and avid cyclist Jonathan Kidman said it is not the Coonawarra strip which needs improving for cycling but the section of the Riddoch Highway towards Mount Gambier.
“South of Penola is where the road is most dangerous,” Mr Kidman said.
“The Coonawarra stretch is fine to ride along there because there are wide shoulders which allows cyclists to get right off the main road.
“Yet once cyclists start heading south of Penola they can forget about it, the shoulders are much more narrow with only the rumble strips.”
Mr Kidman said he still rides south of Penola along the highway, however only early in the morning and whilst wearing high visual clothing.
“My handlebars are wider than the shoulders along there and if a truck were to come by and the steering wheel was to veer a little, then the back trailers can go a foot either way,” he said.
“It is very dangerous.”
The RAA report recommended shoulder sealing, bridge widening and new overtaking lanes along the Princes Highway and the inclusion of the Riddoch Highway as part of the National Highway network to secure funding for further upgrades.
