Safety upgrades to be delivered include new overtaking lanes and road widening
The June 5 South Australia State Budget will include new funding to deliver critical safety improvements on a notorious section of Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla.
The SA government will partner with the Federal government to deliver a total of $80 million (50:50) over five years from 2025–26, which will include the construction of new overtaking lanes.
Main South Road is a key route connecting heavy vehicles, commuters and tourists from Adelaide to destinations along the Fleurieu Peninsula. The section of road between Myponga and Yankalilla carries around 4,900 vehicles a day.
The road includes many curves and has an undulating environment, which makes overtaking difficult, resulting in delays and driver frustrations that can lead to unsafe behaviour.
Between 2019 and 2023, there were 16 crashes, which resulted in one fatality and five people seriously injured. In 2024, five crashes resulted in four lives lost and two serious injuries.
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Upgrades will include the construction of two new overtaking lanes, targeted curve easing and road widening, as well as widening narrow bridges and culverts.
These improvements will increase overtaking opportunities and create a safer environment for all road users travelling to and from the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The project will also support economic growth and improve livability by making travel safe and reliable to key destinations, including Kangaroo Island.
This project is expected to support approximately 125 full time equivalent jobs per year over the construction period.
This project is in addition to the creation of three overtaking lanes on Main South Road between Normanville and Cape Jervis and brings total investment of $111.8 million to deliver five overtaking lanes and other safety upgrades on Main South Road between Myponga and Cape Jervis.
These overtaking lanes will reduce risky overtaking behaviour and support improved traffic flow and safety for locals, tourists, and heavy vehicles, while also building capacity for future growth.
This project is expected to support approximately 115 full time equivalent jobs over the construction period.
The concept design for these overtaking lanes is currently being developed.