Victor Harbor Road Safety Improvements

The Australian and South Australian governments are funding a $155 million South Australian Rural Roads Package to improve safety on regional roads in South Australia. As part of this focus on rural road safety, funding has been allocated for construction of an overtaking lane on Victor Harbor Road, Hindmarsh Valley.

This package aims to improve road safety through this section of road, by reducing the risk and severity of road crashes by the inclusion of sealed road shoulders and road centreline treatments. The combination of safety treatments being adopted under this project provides safer outcomes for motorists using this road.

An overtaking lane is planned on Victor Harbor Road, Hindmarsh Valley, as well as an upgrade of the Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road intersection. Concept designs have been developed.

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Need for the projects
Victor Harbor Road is an important road that connects Adelaide to Victor Harbor and the wider Fleurieu Peninsula. The road is highly utilised on weekends and holidays due to the popularity of the Fleurieu Peninsula as a holiday or day-trip destination. The road is winding, with undulating terrain and the aim is to improve safety in these sections. Between Crows Nest Road to Hindmarsh Tiers Road, there have been 45 crashes resulting in five serious injuries and two fatalities from 2017 to 2021.

The Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road intersection has been identified for safety improvement due to a high number of right-angle crashes.

From 2017 to 2021 there have been 11 crashes resulting in one fatality and one serious injury at the intersection.

Victor Harbor Road overtaking lane, Hindmarsh Valley

Benefits of the project
A review of Victor Harbor Road identified an approximate 10km section, between Crows Nest Road and Waterport Road, that has very limited southbound overtaking opportunities.

An overtaking lane at Hindmarsh Valley was proposed  with the view to improve safety and traffic efficiency by providing an opportunity to safely overtake slower moving vehicles on a section Victor Harbor Road that is within hilly and windy terrain.

The proposed treatments included:

• wide centre median;
• installation of wire rope safety barrier;
• two u-turn locations to facilitate local access;
• pavement rehabilitation, including wider lanes and sealed shoulders;
• new line marking, including audio tactile line marking; and
• vegetation management and removal, where required to improve sight distances and allow for increased road width.

Community Engagement

Following engagement with the Hindmarsh Valley community and users of Victor Harbor Road we received mixed feedback relating to the location of the Hindmarsh Valley overtaking including particular concerns relating to tree removal and the current speed limits.

We have listened to the community members concerns about the extensive tree removal and the overtaking lane will not be built as initially designed. We will continue to further investigate opportunities to improve safety in the area, including considering other locations and treatment options.

Click here to view the project update and survey outcomes.

Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road intersection

Benefits of the project
The upgrade of the Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road intersection will improve safety for
all road users. It includes dedicated right turning lanes for traffic which will allow unobstructed
through movement of traffic on Victor Harbor Road and avoid rear end collisions.

Upgrading the intersection will also provide motorists turning out of Hindmarsh Tiers Road and
Virgin Road improved visibility of vehicles travelling on Victor Harbor Road, allowing for safer
turn movements.

The proposed treatments include:

• dedicated right turn lane into Hindmarsh Tiers Road from Victor Harbor Road;
• dedicated right turn lane into Virgin Road from Victor Harbor Road;
• re-profiling of the intersection to improve sight distance;
• pavement construction and surfacing; and
• new surfacing and line markings.

Concept map: Upgrade of Victor Harbor Road, Hindmarsh Tiers and Virgin Road intersection

Expected timeline
Following this stage of engagement, we will be coming back to the community to share the final
design in early 2024. Construction is anticipated to commence in late 2024.

Heritage values

Next steps

We are currently progressing the Hindmarsh Tiers Road and Virgin Road intersection upgrade design. Site investigations will continue as part of the detailed design process, and major construction is expected to commence in late 2024.

We will also be undertaking an overarching Victor Harbor Road Management Plan. This plan will consider how best to cater for future capacity and further enhanced road safety.