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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-23 Daily Xml
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WIRE ROPE SAFETY BARRIERS

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Road Safety a question about centre line wire rope safety barriers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Will the Minister for Road Safety advise how thousands of motorists will benefit from a new wire rope safety fence being installed along the centre of a busy section of Port Wakefield Road, which carries more than 6,500 vehicles every day?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:06): Road safety has always been a high priority for this government. In 2007, the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure commenced a project to investigate the possibility of installing centre line wire rope safety barriers in South Australia. This innovative safety treatment is being used extensively overseas and in other states in Australia, and there is clear evidence of a dramatic reduction in severe crashes.

Port Wakefield Road south of the Port Wakefield township will be the first section of road where centre line wire rope barriers will be installed. Construction began this week and is expected to be completed by December this year. The selected section of road carries more than 6,500 vehicles a day. There is one lane in each direction, separated by a double barrier line. I am advised that crashes and near-misses can be caused, of course, by vehicles crossing the centre line into oncoming traffic. The objective of this initiative is to prevent fatalities and serious injuries as a result of head-on crashes and off-road crashes caused by vehicles that run off the road then over-correct and cross the centre line.

The centre line wire rope barrier will be installed in two sections. The first section will start before the end of the dual carriageway and continue for about one kilometre. It will include a protected right turn slot for property access. The second section will continue after the protected right turn for about 700 metres. Other improvements will include a more defined edge for the road, new line markings, signage, road surface improvements and shoulder sealing.

These $2 million improvements are jointly funded by the state and commonwealth governments and the Motor Accident Commission (MAC). This is the first time in South Australia that a wire rope safety fence has been constructed along the median to prevent vehicles crossing into oncoming traffic. The state government and MAC will compare and monitor the effectiveness of the median wire rope barrier for the next two years and promote increased use of the safety measure if it proves to be cost-effective and successful in reducing crashes.

The 1.7 kilometre section of Port Wakefield Road was recommended for the trial following crash analysis conducted by the Centre for Automotive Safety Research. Construction work will occur daily between 7am and 4pm and, while every effort will be made to reduce any disruption to motorists, speed restrictions will be in place. I urge all motorists to use extra care along Port Wakefield Road during the construction period.

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