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The state’s peak motoring body continues to raise the alarm about the state of South Australia’s road network, as the Auditor General reports a $2.1 billion road maintenance backlog.
The Auditor General’s Annual Report shows, over the last five years, roads have deteriorated to the value of $1.6 billion while only $892 million had been spent on maintaining the road network – a shortfall of 45%.
The Report goes on to say: “Road maintenance expenditure should be matched to the depreciation of the road network each year to prevent deterioration of the existing network and avoid higher expenditure in future years.”
RAA has long been calling for a $1 billion investment over four years to help address the road maintenance backlog. The latest Auditor General’s report states that while the annual investment has increased from $189m (up from $160m) it is still short of RAA’s call for an average of $250m each year.
RAA’s Senior Manager Infrastructure and Road Safety Charles Mountain said the state’s deteriorating road network was a risk to road safety and productivity.
“Roads with potholes, rutting, crumbling shoulders and, wash outs are in need of repair and are less safe and less productive,” Mr Mountain said.
“Country roads with higher speed limits pose an even greater risk when they’re in poor condition.
“If you hit a pothole or your wheel drops off a crumbling shoulder at 110km/h, the consequences can be horrific – possibly fatal.
“RAA is very concerned that the problem is fast getting away from the government – as the Auditor General report implies.
“RAA has been calling for $1 billion over four years to break the back of SA’s ever growing road maintenance backlog.
“South Australia is quite literally on the road to ruin without investment to address this now-record backlog.
“Without serious investment, our roads will continue to deteriorate faster than the state can fix them and that makes for a bumpy, and less safe ride, for all South Australians.”
The report outlines the sheer scale and challenge in maintaining South Australia’s transport network assets, which are valued at over $36 billion.
“While it’s great to see governments investing significantly in transport projects—such as the North South Corridor, and Adelaide Hills Freight Bypass—maintaining our road network seems to be falling well behind,” Mr Mountain said.
South Australia’s road network includes around:
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