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<\/p>\nTell us about your experience. <\/p>\n
The South Australian government has admitted that the quality of a stretch of road near Mannum is “not acceptable” despite repeated attempts by its contractors to patch it.<\/p>\n
The result of weekend works on Ridley Road, between Mannum and Cambrai, sparked concern among locals, including Mannum resident Paul Smith, who has been documenting the condition of the road on social media.<\/p>\n
The motorcyclist said was “outraged” by the state of the road, particularly by a large pothole that was repaired at least four times over the past week.<\/p>\n
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A section of Ridley Road photographed prior to road works. (Supplied: Jubba Photography\/Paul Smith)<\/p>\n
“What I saw was beyond belief,” Mr Smith said.<\/p>\n
“If someone hits it on a bike, they’re going to die.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think the politicians and the pencil pushers understand that we don’t get a second chance on a motorbike.”<\/p>\n
Mr Smith said the pothole was so large that could pose a hazard to other smaller vehicles.<\/p>\n
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Paul Smith says the patching on the weekend did not restore his confidence in the safety of the road. (Supplied: Jubba Photography\/Paul Smith)<\/p>\n
Will the planned repairs be enough?<\/p>\n
In a statement, a spokesperson for SA’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport said the potholes were caused by heavy rain over winter.<\/p>\n
It said that contractors it engaged earlier this year had conducted temporary patching along Ridley Road but more permanent work had been scheduled for next month.<\/p>\n
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The Department of Infrastructure and Transport says more repairs are planned. (Supplied: SA Department of Infrastructure and Transport)<\/p>\n
“We acknowledge that this road has deteriorated to a point that is not acceptable to the Department or the community,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
Mid Murray Council chief executive officer Andrew Johnson said the council had received multiple community complaints about Ridley Road.<\/p>\n
He said the council was in discussions with the state government about the quality of local roads and had questions about their future as conversations about a Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass continue<\/a>.<\/p>\n “The proposal to get the freight off of the freeway is to send it through that road,” Dr Johnson said.<\/p>\n “Unfortunately it’s just not up to it in its current condition, and that’s beyond the potholes \u2014 it needs to be widened, it needs to be made safer, it needs to be strengthened.”<\/p>\n Andrew Johnson says the council is engaging with the state government about the road network. (ABC Riverland: Amelia Walters)<\/p>\n Safety above rules<\/p>\n Safety concerns about South Australian roads are not new.<\/p>\n Motorists in the Yorke Peninsula and South East have been calling for an urgent fix to a multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog since 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/07ab1fc2ab3ec55567a4aacaf575f6a7.jpeg\")
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