The Federal and Western Australian Governments have announced $55.25 million in funding for the successful projects under the Regional Road Safety package.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said 16 projects were selected based on an assessment of crash risk and road safety audits.
“From the Great Southern region to the Pilbara we are improving safety and boosting freight efficiency for regional industries by delivering more accessible roads for heavy vehicles,” Mr Chester said.
“We are committed to better, safer roads to reduce the number of crashes leading to deaths and serious injuries. That is why we are investing in road widening, shoulder sealing, new overtaking lanes, intersection improvements and other important safety upgrades.”
Western Australian Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said the projects included in the package had been prioritised based on factors such as economy of scale, deliverability and cost effectiveness.
“The upgrades will include improvements to major regional routes such as the South Western Highway, Railway Road, Indian Ocean Drive, Brand Highway, Great Northern Highway and the North West Coastal Highway,” Ms Saffioti said.
“Project values range from $1.5 million towards the Goldfields Highway and the Great Northern Highway to $11 million for curve improvements, intersection upgrades, and two new bridges on Albany-Lake Grace Road (Amelup curves).”
The Regional Road Safety package is part of the $2.3 billion road and rail infrastructure package to improve safety, ease congestion and keep the economy moving in Western Australia.
The Australian Government has committed $44.2 million and the Western Australian Government has committed $11.05 million to fund the Regional Road Safety package.
The upgrades will be undertaken between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
A full list of successful projects and funding is below.
| Road name | Description of works | Total ($) |
| GREAT SOUTHERN REGION | ||
| Albany-Lake Grace Road (Amelup curves) | Widen and reconstruct substandard curves, upgrade intersections and construct two bridges. | 11,000,000 |
| Northam-Cranbrook Road | Widen and seal shoulders | 2,500,000 |
| SOUTH WEST REGION | ||
| South Western Highway | Widen and seal shoulders | 2,000,000 |
| Railway Road | Widen and seal shoulders | 2,100,000 |
| MID WEST-GASCOYNE REGION | ||
| Brand Highway | Construct two passing lanes | 5,000,000 |
| Great Northern Highway | Widen and seal shoulders | 1,500,000 |
| Indian Ocean Drive | Construct four passing lanes | 7,000,000 |
| GOLDFIELDS ESPERANCE REGION | ||
| Goldfields Highway | Widen and seal shoulders | 1,500,000 |
| Goldfields Highway | Widen and overlay | 4,600,000 |
| Coolgardie-Esperance Highway | Construct passing lane | 2,500,000 |
| Coolgardie-Esperance Highway | Construct passing lane | 2,500,000 |
| WHEATBELT REGION | ||
| York-Merredin Road | Reconstruct, realign and widen | 2,500,000 |
| York-Merredin Road | Reconstruct and widen | 2,400,000 |
| PILBARA REGION | ||
| North West Coastal Highway | Widen and seal shoulders | 2,000,000 |
| Great Northern Highway (between Auski Roadhouse and Port Hedland) | Construct two passing lanes | 4,000,000 |
| North West Coastal Highway (between Karratha and Roebourne) | Construct passing lane | 2,150,000 |
| Total | 55,250,000 |
