Work has started on the duplication of Victor Harbor Road, between Main South Road and the McLaren Vale turn off.

Barriers and speed restrictions are in place and the changed road conditions are causing some problems for motorists. 

Before the roadworks started, there were two lanes for motorists going up the hill towards Old Noarlunga. With the roadworks are in place, the far lane has temporarily been blocked off with concrete barriers.  

However the 80km speed limit has remained in place until just after the top of the hill.

Motorist Mark Dale reported a near head-on accident on Monday, whilst heading towards McLaren Vale. He says a driver of a 4WD coming up the hill appeared not to have realised that there was now only one lane in that direction.

Mark said the driver realised he was on the wrong side of the road and swerved back into the correct lane but behind him there was another car heading straight towards him. Fortunately, he was able to brake in time and avoid a collision.

He told ABC Radio this morning that he believed the concrete barriers in use at the roadworks gave the false impression that there were still two lanes on the way up the hill as there was no signage to say that one had been closed.

He was joined on air by a caller called Anne who described the area as “an accident waiting to happen”.

Mark says he has reported the incident to the Transport Department and suggests that the speed limit be reduced to 60km per hour while the works continue.

On Tuesday there was a two-car collision at the intersection of Victor Harbor and Robinson Road, where a roundabout is about to be installed as part of the project.