The region’s main arterial road is broken and so has the community’s patience after another weekend of wild weather left it in a dangerous state, according to Finniss MP David Basham.

He has slammed the state government for failing to deliver meaningful upgrades to one of South Australia’s most important regional roads, despite repeated warnings, rising traffic volumes, and clear community concern.

“After South Australia Police flagged safety concerns on Saturday 26 July, I changed my plans and drove out to inspect Victor Harbor Road firsthand. 

“What I found was alarming — serious potholes, speed limits dropped for safety, and dedicated crews out in the pouring rain putting up bollards just to prevent an accident,” Mr Basham says.

“This is now the third year in a row we’ve seen this stretch of road fall apart during winter. The same potholes keep reappearing. The same patches keep failing. The same fears from commuters and families keep being ignored.”

Mr Basham says In September 2024 Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis gave written assurances that Victor Harbor Road would be repaired, regularly monitored, and kept safe. 

Yet recent incidents — including multiple blown tyres, near misses, and dangerous lane closures — paint a very different picture.

“The overtaking lane near Isaacson Road now carries more than 7,700 vehicles per day and is in a worse state than ever. 

“South of Mount Compass, traffic has jumped from 10,300 to over 12,000 vehicles daily — and the road has simply not kept up. It is failing under pressure, and it’s costing locals their safety and their money,” Mr Basham says.

The community has taken to social media with frustration and fear, sharing stories of blown tyres, damaged rims, and terrifying drives through crumbling road conditions.

One commuter described being “too scared to drive home” after a blowout near Mount Compass. Another recalled seeing three separate cars changing tyres at the same location.

“This isn’t just a matter of inconvenience — it’s a matter of safety and lives. Patch-up jobs in bad weather aren’t good enough. They’re a waste of public money and a danger to road users,” Mr Basham says.

He is calling on the Minister to urgently fund full reconstruction of the worst-affected sections of Victor Harbor Road — not just temporary repairs — and to match the previous government’s commitment to proper upgrades, like those completed north of Mount Compass.

“Our regional roads deserve more than broken promises and band-aid fixes. We need real investment, real reconstruction, and real accountability. Until then, every wet weekend is another roll of the dice for Fleurieu families.”