Ridley Road's condition deemed unacceptable in South Australia — ABC News Australia
Authorities in the state of South Australia have deemed the condition of a section of Ridley Road between Mannum and Cambrai in Australia unacceptable. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport said the road surface had deteriorated due to heavy winter rains. After temporarily patching potholes, the agency scheduled permanent repair works for next month.
As ABC News Australia reports, the results of repair works carried out over the weekend raised concerns among local residents. Mannum resident and motorcyclist Paul Smith, who documented the road's condition on social media, said he was outraged by its state.
Risks for motorcyclists
According to Smith, a large pothole on the road was repaired at least four times during the previous week. He believes it could pose a deadly danger to motorcyclists and also be hazardous for other small vehicles.
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The motorcyclist said that patching carried out over the weekend had not restored his confidence in the road's safety. He also noted that Ridley Road is one of the region's roads that requires not temporary damage repairs, but more substantial restoration work.
Repair plans
The Department for Infrastructure and Transport said contractors engaged earlier this year had carried out temporary pothole patching along Ridley Road. The agency acknowledged that the road's condition had deteriorated to a level unacceptable both to the department and to the community.
Mid Murray Council chief executive Andrew Johnson said local authorities had received numerous complaints from residents. According to him, the council is discussing the condition of the local road network with the state government amid discussions about the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass project. Johnson noted that simply eliminating potholes would not be enough to potentially route freight traffic along this road: it would need to be widened, strengthened and made safer.
