A key section of the Southern Ports Highway has been upgraded, delivering safer and smoother journeys for freight operators, tourists and regional road users in South Australia’s south east.
The $18.3 million Southern Ports Highway Project has reached a major milestone with works completed on a 15-kilometre section between Robe and Clay Wells Road at Bray.
The project is part of a jointly funded road safety investment by the Australian and South Australian governments under the national Road Safety Program.
Why does the Southern Ports Highway matter for freight?
The Southern Ports Highway stretches more than 119 kilometres between Kingston SE and Millicent and is a key transport corridor for freight, agriculture and tourism movements across the south east.
About 1,000 vehicles travel between Robe and Bray each day, including around 180 heavy vehicles.
The corridor supports agricultural transport and links popular Limestone Coast destinations, making improvements to road conditions and safety important for both industry and visitor traffic.
What upgrades have been completed?
The completed Robe to Clay Wells Road section includes shoulder widening, vegetation management, pavement rehabilitation and resealing.
Safety barriers have also been installed, with audio-tactile line marking to be added in the coming months.
The works are designed to reduce the risk of run-off-road crashes and lower the likelihood of serious or fatal collisions.
Across the broader project, the two 15-kilometre sections being upgraded will receive lane widening, shoulder sealing, pavement rehabilitation, culvert extensions, safety barriers, and audio-tactile line marking.
What work is still underway?
Further road safety improvements are progressing on another 15-kilometre section between Beachport and the Southend Access Road turn-off.
These works include road surface reconstruction, being delivered in stages by Wattle Range Council on behalf of the South Australian Government.
How will the project support regional transport?
The project supported 32 full-time-equivalent jobs during construction and is designed to improve safety, freight access and regional economic activity.
It follows the completion in June 2025 of a dedicated left-turn lane from Southern Ports Highway into Southend Access Road, delivered under the South Australian Government’s $10 million Regional Road Safety Infrastructure Package.