Plea for improvements to Thrington intersection ignored

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis MP is frustrated and disappointed that a third attempt to alert the need for improved safety at the intersection of Thrington and Mines Road near North Yelta has again fallen on deaf ears.

Mr Ellis first contacted Minister for Infrastructure and Transport the Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP last August about the dangerous thoroughfare that could benefit from a significant upgrade, with further follow up approaches made in January and June this year.

“This is a busy intersection that carries tourism and local traffic coming to and from Port Hughes and Moonta from Adelaide and the Copper Coast Highway, and multiple constituents have advised the urgent need for a merge lane or updated alignment.

“At least the Department has agreed to extend the existing 80 kilometre per hour speed limit zone past the intersection but they unfortunately have today again ruled out any works to make the traffic flow safer, including agreement to replacing even the Give Way signage for Stop signage.

“It is frustrating that local experience is not more highly valued”.

Mr Ellis said local councillors, CFS representatives, real estate firms, residents and holidaymakers have contacted him on this topic, all relaying having witnessed a number of alarming “near misses”.

“The Department continues to advise me the intersection has been assessed as having a low crash history, making any improvements unwarranted.

“As stated in Parliament back in February when I addressed this topic in the chamber, Moonta, Moonta Bay and Port Hughes are experiencing significant growth in local housing and popularity as tourist destinations and an upgrade of this intersection is needed to accommodate the associated higher traffic flow.

“I will continue to advocate the need for a re-design to pro-actively prevent future crashes occurring”, Mr Ellis said.