Member for Barker Tony Pasin says the Southern Ports Highway and Southend Access Road intersection is an accident waiting to happen.

Mr Pasin, who is also the Assistant Shadow Minister for infrastructure and Transport, said that for many years the Southend Progress Association, Wattle Range Council and the RAA have all been active in advocating for a dedicated left hand turning lane to increase road safety on the State Government managed road.

Mr Pasin has recently written again to State Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis about the safety concerns.

Mr Pasin has also met with the RAA’s Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain in Mount Gambier where need to upgrade the intersection was a topic of discussion.

“Minister Koutsantonis thinks the junction is operating safely and is in a satisfactory condition in its current layout.

“The Southend Progress Association, Wattle Range Council and RAA join me in respectfully disagreeing with the Minister on this matter,” Mr Pasin said.

“There is an ever-growing road maintenance backlog on South Australian roads (currently estimated at $3b) and the recent State Budget made no significant investment into the regional road network.

“The death toll on SA roads was almost 10% higher in the 12 months to March than it was in the previous corresponding period and Australian’s living in regional areas are almost five times more likely to die in road crashes than those living in cities.

“The Southern Ports Highway – Southend intersection is one of many road projects across the State that, if investment was made, could well save lives and help in achieving the National Road Safety Strategy target of halving road deaths by the year 2030.

“We just need the State Government to listen.”