Federal priority for

Duplicate Dukes

For example, close to 2km of clear road is needed to The next federal government must: safely overtake a b-double travelling at 100km/h where the overtaking vehicle is travelling at 110km/h. However, on Commit to the staged duplication of Dukes Dukes Highway between 7am-7pm, drivers can expect to Highway between Tailem Bend and the encounter a vehicle in the opposing direction at least once South Australian/Victorian border to reduce for every kilometre travelled, which can make overtaking road fatalities, improve freight efficiency, and extremely hazardous. futureproof the corridor for autonomous vehicle trials. In addition to passenger and freight traffic between and , Dukes Highway also connects Estimated cost: the Coorong and regions and $2 billion plays a key role in supporting the local agriculture, forestry and fishing industries, which provide 33% of the region’s employment. The highway is also a major link to South Australia’s and its growing population. Dukes Highway is South Australia’s busiest regional freight corridor. Following on from Victoria’s commitment to duplicate the connecting Western Highway, RAA is calling on the federal Carrying more than 1100 commercial vehicles each day government to commit funding for a staged duplication – and many more passenger vehicles – Dukes Highway of Dukes Highway in South Australia to provide two lanes is a single-lane carriageway in each direction, providing a in each direction for the entire corridor between Adelaide vital 190km link between South Australia and Victoria. and Melbourne. Unfortunately, busy single-lane highways are notorious Crucially, duplication of Dukes Highway will not only for crashes, especially head-on collisions, and Dukes improve transport efficiency, it will improve safety and Highway is no exception. reduce the number of people injured and killed on the road Despite the installation of a wide centre line in 2012- every year. 13, 96 people were injured and 12 killed while travelling Dukes Highway also looms as a major strategic route on Dukes Highway between 2013-2017, with almost a between Adelaide and Melbourne for future autonomous quarter of casualty crashes due to head-on collisions. freight operations, which also require at least two lanes in Due to the high traffic volume, overtaking opportunities each direction. As a major strategic freight route of national are severely restricted for the thousands of vehicles that significance, Dukes Highway is ideally positioned to be at use the highway every day, particularly when wanting to the forefront of the nation’s autonomous freight innovation. pass long freight vehicles. DP1891139 02/19 AT 02/19 DP1891139