The Western Australian government has announced a record funding injection of nearly $57 million to support more than 100 major road safety programs across the state.
The funding includes nearly $27 million for the state black spot program, while $30 million will go to the safer roads program.
SUBSCRIBE to the PowerTorque newsletter
More than 100 locations across the state will receive road safety upgrades, including 54 in regional Western Australia.
The funding will deliver both upgrades and critical planning and pre-construction works.
In addition to the state government’s committed funding, a further $8.46 million will be contributed by local governments from around WA to support safety projects on local roads.
The major funding injection takes the total amount invested into various WA road safety programs to more than $800 million. This is on top of the almost $1 billion invested since 2020 on the WA government’s Regional Road Safety Program.
“This announcement represents the biggest investment we’ve ever made through these two critical road safety programs,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“Improving road safety is a high priority for our government, which is why we continue to make significant investments to upgrade roads across Western Australia.
“We know that small changes can make a massive difference when it comes to road safety, and the investment we’re announcing today will support upgrades at more than 100 locations around the state.
“This significant investment complements the work we’re already doing through the landmark Regional Road Safety Program, which has seen around $1 billion invested since 2020, and roughly 10,000 kilometres of our state’s regional road network upgraded with safety treatments like sealed shoulder and audible edge lines.”
Projects being funded though State Black Spot Program include:
- $221,000 to widen Northampton Kalbarri Road, install protected left turn lane and painted right turn lane to Horrocks Road in the Shire of Northampton;
- $1,535,000 to widen Goldfields Highway providing for right turning movement and extend left turn lane to Hare Street, improve delineation, signs and pavement markings in the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder;
- $137,971 to realign Moorilup Road intersection with Carbarup Road to T-intersection, extend sealed approach on Collins Road, upgrade drainage, delineation and signs in the Shire of Plantagenet;
- $1,718,000 to widen narrow seal on Hairpin Road, install gravel shoulders, clear vegetation, improve drainage, install signs and pavement markings in the City of Busselton;
- $400,000 to upgrade French Street including seal gravel road, installing parking bays, pedestrian facilities and street lighting in the Shire of Carnarvon;
- $227,526 to widen narrow seal on Lakeview Drive, upgrade pedestrian path, install pavement markings, signs and delineation in the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley;
- $207,789 to widen intersection and approaches at Bullaring-George Road and Rabbit Proof Fence Road, install rumble strips, remove hazards from clear zone, improve drainage and install signs in the Shire of Corrigin;
- $183,333 to install raised plateaus on Kennedy Street between Banksia Street and Cottier Drive in the Town or Port Hedland;
- $728,000 to install a roundabout at Wellard Road and Henley Boulevard in the Town of Kwinana;
- $1,173,188 to upgrade the intersection at Beeliar Drive and Dunraven Drive in the City of Cockburn;
- $146,000 to install a roundabout and upgrade pedestrian facilities and lighting at Apsley Road and Aster Avenue in the City of Canning;
- $418,629 to install safety barriers at various curved sections on O’Brien Road in the City of Swan;
- $536,600 to install traffic signals at Hartman Drive and Prindeville Drive intersection, ban right turn movement from Buckingham Drive to Hartman Drive in the City of Wanneroo;
- $344,413 to replace two adjacent intersections with one elongated roundabout at Rowley Road and Liddelow Road and De Haer Road in the City of Cockburn and City of Kwinana; and
- $435,733 to widen four-way intersection, install median islands on all approaches, clear vegetation and reduce speed limit at Summerfield Road-Richardson Street and Wright Road in the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
Projects being funded though the Safer Roads Program road upgrades include:
- $1,720,000 to widen seal with centre line treatment and construct southbound passing lane on South Western Highway (Harvey North);
- $3,400,000 to construct northbound passing lane on Brand Highway (Boothendarra);
- $1,130,000 to widen culverts and enabling works on Victoria Highway (Middle Creek to Yearling Creek); and
- $6,200,000 to construct passing lane on Albany Highway (Bedfordale South).
