Roundabout planned at notorious Monarto intersection
The Murray Bridge councill will push for an upgrade at a crossroads on the Old Princes Highway.
This story was originally published behind Murray Bridge News’ paywall. Paywalled stories are unlocked four weeks after publication. Can’t wait that long? Subscribe here.
The Murray Bridge council will campaign to have a roundabout installed at a dangerous intersection at Monarto.
There have been several serious crashes and countless near misses over the years where the Old Princes Highway meets Schenscher Road and Ferries McDonald Road.
Most have involved drivers failing to give way, including – allegedly – a collision which left a 39-year-old man with critical injuries in May.
That crash prompted an outcry of concern from locals, as well as from Councillor Airlie Keen.
Now it looks as though they might get their wish.
A roundabout was the preferred option identified by traffic safety consultants MFY in a report to this month’s council meeting.
The next step will be a feasibility study which will allow the council to apply for “black spot” funding.
The intersection would become eligible for funding when two recent crashes were added to Department for Infrastucture and Transport statistics, councillors were told.
Mayor Brenton Lewis said it would be important to get any upgrade done before Monarto Safari Park’s new visitor centre and luxury accommodation opened in 2022.
“We’re talking about increasing (traffic by) ... potentially 100,000 visitors per annum, which I think is going to be conservative, frankly,” he said.
“In 18 months’ time it’s likely to be one of the busiest intersections (in the district).
“We’re not waiting for fatalities to raise the matter.”
The council has already made minor improvements to the intersection since May’s crash.
It has also been working with the state government to get the 100-kilometre-per-hour speed limit lowered on Schenscher Road.
The intersection’s last significant upgrade was in 2014-15, when slip lanes and warning signs were installed and sight lines improved following a fatal crash.
There have been at least eight other significant crashes since then, including four in which people were hurt.
