Dungog Shire Council has welcomed the announcement that it will receive $1.79M for safer roads in the shire under the NSW Government's Road Safety program.
The funding will be split among three of the region's priority road safety hotspots including on Bingleburra Road, the Allyn River Road and Bingleburra Road intersection, and Stroud Hill Road.
Mayor of Dungog, John Connors, says he is grateful to receive these funds that will enable council to undertake these important road safety improvements.
"298 people lost their lives on NSW roads in the past 12 months, with another 9,920 seriously injured in motor vehicle incidents," says Mayor Connors.
"On behalf of council and the Dungog community, we are very pleased to receive these funds to help improve the overall safety of our shire road network for both locals and visitors to our region and we will continue to lobby candidates in the upcoming Upper Hunter by-election to ensure our road and infrastructure funding priorities will be met."
General Manager Gareth Curtis says it is anticipated the road safety improvement works will be completed by the end of this year.
"We were very happy upon receiving news that council had been successful in receiving this funding, however due to the additional resources to manage the recent flooding response, we have requested a 6-month extension to the timeframe provided by the state government to ensure these vital works can be carried out" says Mr Curtis.
"These road safety improvement works involve line marking on Bingleburra Road, upgrade approaches at the Allyn River Road and Bingleburra Road intersection, and shoulder widening and the installation of guardrails at Stroud Hill and Bingleburra Road.
"These enhancements will serve to make these notorious sections of road safer for all motorists."
The new Road Safety Program builds on the NSW Government's $258M investment in its Safer Roads Program in 2020-21, and the Federal contribution of $140M to the Safer Roads program through the Targeted Road Safety Program.
The Australian Government has committed an additional $540M to the new jointly funded program, designed to prioritise the development and delivery of road safety infrastructure projects across NSW, support jobs and stimulate local economies.
The three road safety projects in Dungog Shire aim for completion by 31 December 2021, pending confirmation for the extension requested from Transport for NSW.
