Fast facts

Status

Planning underway

Location

Regional South Australia

About the upgrades

The Regional Road Safety Infrastructure Program (RRSIP) will see important regional highways and roads receive critical upgrades as part of the South Australian Government’s commitment to reduce the risk of fatal and serious injuries and increase road safety.

What's happening

The State Government has allocated $10 million over four years (2024-2027) to undertake regional road safety treatments including shoulder sealing, Audio Tactile Line Marking (ATLM), safety barriers and rural junction activated warning system. An additional funding of $7.5 million over 3 years has been announced in the 2025-2026 State Budget.

The highways and roads to receive upgrades are:

• Southern Ports Highway and Southend Access Road junction
• Spencer Highway (Wallaroo to Moonta)
• Flinders Highway (south of Wangary to the junction at Western Approach Road)
• St Vincent Highway (Yorketown to Edithburgh)
• Goolwa Road (Mount Compass to Goolwa)
• Gorge Road (Amber Gully to Corkscrew Road)

In addition, Rural Junction Activated Warning System (RJAWS) will be installed in four high risk regional intersections. These systems involve installing electronic variable speed limit signs at approaches to intersections, which are radar triggered by the presence of side road traffic, slowing traffic for a short section of road and reducing the likelihood of crashes.

Works include:

The junction at Southern Ports Highway and Southend Access Road has been upgraded to include a left turning lane to improve safety and accessibility. Construction is complete and open to traffic.

Sections of the Spencer Highway between Wallaroo and Moonta have received shoulder sealing and ATLM. Construction is complete and open to traffic.

Sections of the Flinders Highway from Wangary to the junction at Western Approach Road has been upgraded with sealed shoulders, safety barriers and ATLM. Construction is complete and open to traffic.

The section of St Vincent Highway between Yorketown and Edithburgh has been upgraded with the installation of edge line ATLM. Construction is complete and open to traffic.

Safety barriers and ATLM will be installed along sections of Goolwa Road from Mount Compass to Goolwa. There were 11 recorded crashes along this section of road from 2019 to 2023. Construction works are expected to be completed by November 2026.

Safety barriers will also be installed along Gorge Road from Amber Gully to Corkscrew Road, where there were 10 recorded crashes from 2019 to 2023. The construction is expected to commence in late 2026.

Currently, a review of regional intersections is currently underway to consider installation of RJAWS. These systems involve installing electronic variable speed limit signs at approaches to intersections, which are radar triggered by the presence of side road traffic, slowing traffic for a short section of road and reducing the likelihood of crashes.

The funding for RRSIP forms part of the State Government’s $98 million road safety package – one of three being delivered under a combined $346.1 million investment in partnership with the Commonwealth Government – and the South Australian Road Safety Action Plan 2024-26.

• South Australia's Transport Strategy

  South Australia’s regional areas and regional road network are important to the State’s economic and social fabric. Many regions face challenges related to transport connectivity. The state's first Transport Strategy highlighted the importance of enhancing regional connectivity, through improving the quality of services and providing greater choice in how people travel. Find out more about our 30-year vision for the State's transport system.