The 2025-26 State Budget has provided welcome funding for some important road upgrades, according to the RAA, but road maintenance funding remains insufficient to address South Australia’s growing $2 billion backlog.

The State Budget has allocated funding for a number of road and transport projects, including:

• $125 million to progress the High Productivity Vehicle Route which includes the Adelaide Hills Freight Bypass.
• $125 million to fund the $250 million Curtis Road level crossing removal project.
• $40m to fund the $80m upgrade of Main South Road between Myponga and Yankalilla.
• $110m road safety package including additional funding for road safety maintenance and safety cameras.
• $20.7m over four years to reduce public transport fares for students.
• $12.5 million to make on-demand bus services permanent in Mount Barker. 

RAA Chief Executive Officer Nick Reade says while these road and infrastructure projects are welcome, it appears South Australia’s $2 billion road maintenance backlog will continue to increase.

“Ahead of this state budget, we called for $1 billion over four years to begin tackling our $2 billion road maintenance backlog which amounts to more than 2,500 km of our road network,” Mr Reade says.

“That means the condition of our roads will continue to deteriorate, resulting in more potholes, crumbling shoulders and cracks that cause a risk to safety and wear and tear on vehicles.

RAA has also welcomed the decision to make on-demand bus services permanent in Mount Barker, which has been a long-held advocacy position for RAA, but says it should be extended to the Fleurieu.

“The on-demand bus service has been extremely popular in Mount Barker and RAA has been calling for some time to make this service permanent.

“RAA continues to call on the Government to trial on-demand services in other regional and outer suburb regions like Victor Harbor and Goolwa.”