Road safety in New South Wales has received a boost with a new round of funding announced under the Australian Government’s Black Spot Programme.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester and Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley today announced funding of $1,791,425 to fix eight black spots on local roads.
Mr Chester said the projects were recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts and would be delivered during the course of 2016-17.
“The annual economic cost of road crashes is estimated at $27 billion per year. Governments of all levels have made significant progress over several decades in reducing fatalities, yet there is still work to be done,” Mr Chester said.
“This investment is helping to make our local roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
“The Australian Government has committed $500 million to the Black Spot Programme from 2014 15 to 2018-19, including an additional $200 million over two years from 2015-16 to improve road safety and infrastructure across the country.”
Ms Ley said that communities across the region will benefit from a safer local road network through the improvement of Black Spot locations recommended by the Consultative Panel.
“The Black Spot Programme allows anyone to make a submission for a safety upgrade to a road or intersection in their local area, and residents will recognise the history and notoriety of locations in their own regions. They may even have seen emergency services at the site or have had their own near misses,” Ms Ley said.
“According to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, there were 1,242 road deaths in Australia in the 12 months to February 2016. I think we all agree that this is far too many and we must continue the campaign to make our roads safer.
“We are committed to reducing crashes on our roads. Accidents take a huge toll on families, our communities and the economy and I welcome these upgrades to our local roads.”
The approved projects in Farrer are (by region):
WAKOOL
• Section of Wakool Road approximately 3km east of Wakool: $675,400 to install audio-tactile edge line, curve alignment markers and guideposts with reflectors and upgrade sealed shoulder up to 2.5m on curve
GREATER HUME
• Section of Hume Highway north of Bendemeer Lane at Holbrook: $400,000 to install wire rope barrier on median
• Section of Urana Road approximately 200m north of Scholz Street at Jindera: $160,625 to remove clearzone hazards and install w-beam barrier on the roadside
URANA
• Section of Federation Way approximately 6km north of Urana-Boree Creek Road near Urana: $270,000 to remove clearzone hazards
ALBURY
• Intersection of Urana Road and Griffith Road at Lavington: $200,000 to upgrade the traffic signals to introduce a fully controlled right turn phase with arrows
• Curve where Gap Road becomes Sackville Street at Albury: $29,900 to install vehicle activated signs
COROWA
• Intersection of Bull Plain Road and Spring Drive at Mulwala: $24,500 to install painted median, audio-tactile edge line and curve alignment markers and upgrade signage.
• Section of Bow Street and Redlands Road from Federation Avenue to Jasmin Court at Corowa: $31,000 to install painted median and retro reflective pavement markers
For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Programme, or to nominate a black spot, visit http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots/.
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