Sophie Conlon
RAA road safety experts have been in the South East this week investigating the local road network and what changes should be made to improve road users safety.
RAA senior manager safety and infrastructure Charles Mountain said the organisation last completed a road assessment in the region in 2019 so it was timely to see how the network had changed.
“Our 2019 investigation covered 3,500km of road and proposed upgrades to corridors such as Riddoch Highway, Dukes Highway, Princes Highway and Southern Ports Highway – and we know that some of these upgrades have been completed in the years since,” he said.
During the investigation Mr Mountain said the RAA covered the the four highways, as well as other routes like Naracoorte Road, and the Wimmera Highway to the border.
“We’re trying to cover as much of the network as we can to ascertain what improvements have been made, but critically what still needs to be done,” he said.
Mr Mountain said it was good to see there had been shoulder sealing and pavement improvements, as well as overtaking lanes added to major roads, but there was still work to be done.
“There is still areas where critically road maintenance is needed, and obviously this wet weather puts a lot of extra pressure on the road network because of pot holes and cracks and once water gets in it tends increase and turns a small problem into a bigger problem,” he said.
“Other things such as intersection improvements as well, there can be some changes there too.”
Once findings from across the whole Limestone Coast road network have been collated Mr Martin said a scorecard with the recommendations on how local roads can be improved.
