Transport Minister Rita Saffioti today announced $25.78 million has been allocated through the 2019-20 State Black Spot Program to upgrade some of Western Australia's worst roads.
Safety upgrades and improvements will be carried out at 117 locations, with 63 roads in the metropolitan area and 54 regional roads to benefit.
The McGowan Government has contributed $20.78 million to the program, with the remaining $5 million provided by local governments.
Upgrades in the metropolitan area include:
- $1.5 million to upgrade the intersection of Albany Highway and Fremantle Road in Gosnells;
- $800,000 towards the installation of a roundabout at Hepburn Avenue and Highclere Boulevard in Marangaroo;
- $173,333 towards the installation a roundabout at Powell Street and Waterloo Street in Joondanna; and
- $149,800 to complete the upgrade of the Shepperton Road and Miller Street intersection in Victoria Park. The total State funding for this project was $749,000.
In regional Western Australia, projects include:
- $2.7 million to upgrade the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Anzac Drive in Kalgoorlie;
- $616,000 for Stage 1 of a $2.76 million upgrade of Brockman Highway in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River;
- $400,000 to complete construction of a right turn lane at the intersection of Brand Highway and Cockram Road in the Shire of Gingin;
- $224,067 towards the upgrade of Bandya Road in the Shire of Laverton; and
- $500,000 to complete installation of a roundabout where Eaton Drive, Lavender Way and Blue Wren Drive intersect in the Shire of Dardanup.
The McGowan Government allocated $4.2 billion in the 2019-20 State Budget for road infrastructure and maintenance initiatives to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and create local jobs.
Ms Saffioti has also called on the Commonwealth Government to use the $1.2 billion set aside for the flawed Perth Freight Link project to fund a nine-year WA Regional Road Safety Strategy to tackle road trauma.
For full details of the 2019-20 Black Spot Program schedule, visit Main Roads' website at http://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The Black Spot Program is a joint State-local government initiative, and is delivering real safety benefits to road users.
"Over $25 million has been allocated to this year's program and will upgrade 117 roads in both the metropolitan and regional areas.
"Since its inception in 2000, the Black Spot Program has delivered almost a half a billion dollars in specific safety initiatives on the WA road network for drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
"The program aims to further improve road safety across the State, reducing the significant trauma and suffering of crash victims and their loved ones by targeting sites with a proven crash history or those with a high risk."
