SA Government Concedes Ridley Road Condition 'Not Acceptable'

The South Australian government has conceded that the condition of Ridley Road near Mannum is "not acceptable" despite repeated attempts by its contractors to patch it up.

A section of the road was photographed prior to recent works, sparking concern among locals, including Mannum resident Paul Smith, who has been documenting the condition of the road on social media.

"What I saw was beyond belief," Mr Smith said.

"If someone hits it on a bike, they're going to die. I don't think the politicians and the pencil pushers understand that we don't get a second chance on a motorbike."

Mr Smith said the pothole was so large that it could pose a hazard to other smaller vehicles.

In a statement, a spokesperson for SA's Department of Infrastructure and Transport said the potholes were caused by heavy rain over winter.

"We acknowledge that this road has deteriorated to a point that is not acceptable to the Department or the community," the statement said.

Mid Murray Council chief executive officer Andrew Johnson said the council had received multiple community complaints about Ridley Road.

"The proposal to get the freight off of the freeway is to send it through that road," Dr Johnson said.

"Unfortunately it's just not up to it in its current condition, and that's beyond the potholes — it needs to be widened, it needs to be made safer, it needs to be strengthened."

Mr Smith said Ridley Road was one of many in his region that need more than a "bandaid" fix.

"I can't even go down the freeway in the left-hand lane anymore on the motorbike. The ruts are too bad," he said.

"I've gotten to the stage now where I don't care about our road rules. I will ride on the part of the road that's safe. If that means me riding on the wrong side of the road, I'm still going to do it. That's safer than taking our lives in our hands with these potholes."