Road Upgrades

Mr GEE (Taylor) (15:15): I rise today to speak about another two dangerous intersections in the Taylor electorate. I have previously spoken in this place about three other road safety hotspots that need attention in my electorate. Sadly, I have more to speak about today and in the future mainly due to increasing population, poor driver behaviour and changing road conditions. I want to start by adding to my remarks from my previous contribution two weeks ago in relation to the intersection of Womma and Stebonheath roads in Davoren Park.

A new Drakes distribution centre will be built adjacent to this intersection. Whilst this is fantastic news for local jobseekers, it also makes the upgrade at this intersection even more pressing. Another matter is the dangerous Curtis Road-Heaslip Road intersection at Angle Vale that I spoke about recently. I have written to both the Premier and minister Knoll on behalf of our community regarding all the dangerous road safety situations that I speak about in parliament, making them aware of our concerns and seeking action.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

Mr GEE: I am yet to have a response on those issues. It appears, anyway, that all the work by our community has paid off and the minister has agreed out of nowhere to appear at the intersection on 28 July, hopefully to make an announcement regarding speed limits and the provision of a roundabout. I want to thank Tom Staggard from The Bunyip newspaper for continuing to support our campaign to get these intersections fixed.

I do not want to take the foot off the pedal on this issue until action is happening and not just talk and more delays. I have said many times that we do not care who fixes this intersection—we just want it fixed. I will be the first to thank Playford council or the state government on behalf of our community for making roads safer in our community.

I will now speak about another intersection I briefly touched on two weeks ago, the intersection of Andrews Road and Womma Road. This intersection is on the urban fringe, with a similar crash history to the Womma Road-Stebonheath Road intersection. It is a very busy intersection with both passenger vehicles and an increasing number of heavy vehicles using Womma Road to travel between Elizabeth and the Northern Expressway and cars using Andrews Road to travel in and out of Andrews Farm and the surrounding development, mainly to access the Northern Expressway.

Three of the four approaches to this intersection are signed at 80 km/h, and one is signed at 60 km/h following a campaign for a reduction by the residents of the Northern Residential Village. The ideal solution for this intersection would be a roundabout with additional lighting. I am advised that this is five to 10 years away as part of an agreement signed with the developers of the Eyre development at Penfield.

The intersection of Womma Road and Andrews Road has alarming crash statistics from Location SA. Over the five years to 2016, there were at least 23 crashes resulting in 23 casualties and two serious injuries, with more than a quarter of those crashes occurring at night. There is no lighting at this intersection. Following lobbying by me and the local community, former minister Mullighan advised that a review of the intersection had occurred and an upgrade was planned.

The upgrade was to include raised traffic islands on the Andrews Road approaches to deter vehicles from driving straight through the intersection at speed. Further, DPTI was approaching SA Power Networks about installing additional flag lighting on the existing Stobie poles. As mentioned previously, there is no lighting at all at this intersection.

I ask that the Minister for Infrastructure consider a review of traffic conditions at this intersection, the installation of lighting and a reduction of the speed limit to 60 km/h on all four approaches to this intersection. This will have little effect on the road network as the speed limit currently changes to 60 km/h very close to this intersection, and 60 km/h would be a more appropriate speed on Andrews Road.

I would further ask for consideration to be given to the installation of stop signs on the Andrews Road approaches and larger signs on the lead-up to the intersection to alert drivers travelling on Womma Road. This intersection is in desperate need of an upgrade. On behalf of my community, I call on minister Knoll and the state government to take urgent action at this intersection before more crashes occur.

I will now turn to an intersection that requires action from the City of Playford. The intersection of Curtis Road and Frisby Road is one where vehicles from all directions should be travelling at 60 km/h. The intersection sees of hundreds of right-turn movements from Curtis Road into Frisby Road and right and left-turn movements out of Frisby Road into Curtis Road. Angle Vale residents and visitors, users of the Angle Vale sports clubs and customers shopping at the Bunnings Warehouse on Frisby Road use this intersection.

Time expired.