The McGowan Government is delivering more than $30 million worth of transport upgrades across the Mid-West region, including roads, cycling and walking projects.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti today inspected the $2.6 million intersection upgrade at Brand Highway and Barrett Drive in Geraldton. Upgrades to the intersection to improve safety include:
- installing a separate southbound left turn lane from Brand Highway into Barrett Drive;
- widening the intersection of Brand Highway and Barrett Drive to improve safety;
- extending the dual southbound lanes on Brand Highway past Lockyer Road;
- intersection improvements at Lockyer Road/Brand Highway; and
- new median and island treatments.
Other road upgrade projects underway across the Mid-West, jointly funded through the Regional Road Safety Program, and due to be completed by the end of July are:
- $3.2 million to upgrade 32 kilometres of Brand Highway from Cooljarloo to Badgingarra;
- $4.9 million to upgrade various sections of Indian Ocean Drive;
- $13.8 million to upgrade 128 kilometres of Great Northern Highway.
The McGowan Government is also working to deliver its $1.2 million election commitment to widen Brand Highway at the intersection with West Bank Road in Greenough.
A further $44 million has recently been announced by the Commonwealth Government for upgrades along Indian Ocean Drive between Jurien Bay to Brand Highway.
Pedestrians and cyclists will also benefit from more than $5.5 million for an additional 10 kilometres of infrastructure to the local walking and cycling network. This includes the $4.3 million McGowan Government election commitment to expand the Geraldton Cycling Network, with projects including:
- a connection between Tarcoola Beach and Cape Burney along Brand Highway;
- a connection between Sunset Beach and Drummond Cove;
- a shared path on Glenfield Beach Drive; and
- the transformation of Railway Street in Bluff Point into a safe active street between Spalding Park Reserve, Chapman River trails, and St Lawrence's and Bluff Point primary schools.
Across the Mid-West, the shires of Mingenew, Morawa and Three Springs are also sharing in over $150,000 in recently awarded Western Australian Bicycle Network grant funding to continue to grow their local bike riding networks.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Our Government is committed to delivering for regional Western Australia with more than $50 million worth of transport infrastructure projects underway across the Mid-West region.
"These projects include major road upgrades, including $2.6 million to fix the intersection of Brand Highway and Barrett Drive, as well as cycling and walking projects.
"A number of projects are also being funded through the Regional Road Safety Program that aim to deliver a range of low cost treatments to help reduce trauma across country roads.
"We've also got a strong focus on upgrading cycling and walking infrastructure with another 10 kilometres of shared paths being built throughout the region."
As stated by Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
"The Mid-West is continuing to grow and is becoming even more popular with tourists - so it's important our transport infrastructure continues to keep pace with demand.
"These major road and cycling upgrades will improve safety and connectivity throughout the region.
"As a parent and cyclist I'm proud to be a part of the McGowan Government who continues to deliver safer, better roads and bike paths in regional WA."
