Safety barriers are being rolled out along Burley Griffin Way and Irrigation Way to ensure motorists have a safer journey through the state’s south-west.

Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said the $17 million safety work was being funded through the Australian Government’s $140 million economic stimulus contribution towards the Safer Roads Program in New South Wales.

“More than 30 kilometres of safety barriers will be installed along Burley Griffin Way, between Griffith and the Hume Highway, with almost 6 kilometres of safety barriers along Irrigation Way, between Narrandera and Griffith,” Ms Ley said.

“Sadly these busy stretches of road have seen a high number of crashes over the years, tragically some of them fatal.

“The community has been calling for improvements to safety in these areas and these measures will help to address their concerns.”

In the five years to 2018, there were 100 reported crashes on this section of Burley Griffin Way, with seven of them fatal, and 52 reported crashes on the Irrigation Way stretch, with seven of those crashes also fatal.

State Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said flexible safety barriers have been shown to reduce the severity of run-off road crashes by up to 95 per cent.

“Investment in these kinds of measures are about ensuring people make it home safely at the end of the day,” Ms Cooke said.

“As well as improving safety for road users, this work is also supporting 40 jobs and providing a boost to the local economy.

“The installation of the flexible safety barriers on Burley Griffin Way and Irrigation Way will take several months, with work expected to be finished by November, weather permitting.”

Work will be carried out on weekdays from 7am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 4pm.
Lane closures will be in place during work hours, with motorists advised to allow up to five minutes extra travel time to their journey while barrier installation is underway.

For the latest traffic information, visit www.livetraffic.com, download the Live Traffic app or call the Transport Management Centre on 132 701.