SA's rural road network is the lifeline for the state. It connects regional communities, provides access into our major cities and helps to transport goods from one corner of the state to the other.
The RAA is concerned that for far too long, the state's rural roads have been falling into disrepair.
As we lead in to the next state election, the organisation is calling on all candidates, within government and those aiming to gain a seat for the first time, to put road infrastructure at the top of the agenda.
In the past five years, funding allocated to rural roads has fallen to a point where only 16 per cent of the state government's road funding is allocated to country roads. This is the lowest amount of investment on rural roads since 2006-07.
The RAA is concerned that if this decline continues, the state's rural roads will slip below an acceptable standard and become unsafe for motorists.
Of the money that is being invested on roads by the state government, the Adelaide metropolitan area has received on average 77pc of the total amount spent in the past 10 years, leaving only 23pc for the remainder of the state.
RAA members have told us loud and clear that they want regional roads on the agenda.
RAA received almost 4000 nominations in its Risky Roads campaign last year, with many communities banding together to send in multiple nominations for the local roads that they felt were in dire need of repairs or a complete upgrade.
We have listened and compiled the top eight roads into a wishlist to send to SA politicians.
It comprises:
- the Yorke Peninsula's Bute to Kulpara Road
- the Copper Coast Highway
- the Kulpara to Maitland Road
- the Maitland to Yorketown Road
- RM Williams Way (from Clare to Spalding)
- the Strathalbyn to Goolwa Road
- the Tod Highway
- the Karoonda Highway
In total, we have estimated $252 million is needed to bring these roads up to an acceptable standard.
Most of the roads need treatments such as lane widening, shoulder sealing and vegetation removal; others need line markings to be refreshed, while some others need more significant infrastructure upgrades, such as installation of overtaking lanes.
Each of these relatively simple treatments, that should be considered as part of an ongoing maintenance schedule, would make a big difference to overall road safety for motorists.
By no means is this list of roads extensive or complete. We recognise that many more of SA's regional roads are in need of similar upgrades.
But by highlighting these few roads, we aim to show just why rural roads need a greater level of attention to ensure motorists have safe roads to travel on.
To prove its point, RAA put one of SA's worst regional roads to the test in a 'rural road challenge', with V8 supercar driver Tim Slade behind the wheel of the RAA Road Champions car.
The RAA is calling on you, our members, to watch and share the video, and to go to its website and send a message to your local candidate.
The more voices we have behind us, the louder the noise we can make to call on the politicians to improve SA's regional road network.
Visit www.raa.com.au/roadchampions to join the drive for improved roads, become a road champion and 'honk for better roads'.
Ian Stone is RAA's managing director.
* Full report in Stock Journal, January 30, 2014 issue.