A number of new road safety projects in both regional and metropolitan New South Wales have been announced under the final round of the $822 million Safer Roads Program.
The program is made up of two elements – the Liveable and Safe Urban Communities Initiative and the Saving Lives on Country Roads Initiative.
In regional New South Wales, $89 million is being allocated in this round to fund 24 new projects as well as a number of ongoing projects.
Projects funded under this initiative include improved curve signage, widened shoulders, vehicle activated signage, rumble strips and flexible safety barriers.
New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway, said people living regionally make up about a third of New South Wales’ population, but over the past five years deaths on country roads made up 67 per cent of the state’s road toll.
“The New South Wales Government is committed to reducing this trauma and that is why the majority of funding for the Safer Roads Program has been invested in regional New South Wales,” Mr Farraway said.
“We are investing $640 million into the Saving Lives on Country Roads Initiative, and since 2018 have committed to delivering 469 projects in regional New South Wales to help prevent the serious injuries and deaths of country drivers.
“We know people in the bush often have to travel long distances on a regular basis which can result in fatigue, and this initiative specifically targets high risk locations where the risk of run-off-road or head-on crashes are high.
“The Safer Roads Program is estimated to prevent about 1,500 serious injuries and deaths on New South Wales roads over 15 years.”
Projects in metropolitan areas
During 2022/23, $37 million will also be invested into 20 new projects in metropolitan areas through the Liveable and Safe Urban Communities Initiative, including new safety barriers, traffic lights and road widening projects.
Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Natalie Ward, said the program was set up by the NSW Government in 2018 and since then, it has committed to delivering more than 270 projects in metropolitan areas in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
“It’s critical we continue to create safe road environments for everyone, not just for those behind the wheel, but also our pedestrians and cyclists,” Ms Ward said.
The Safer Roads Program is delivered in partnership with local councils and is funded through the Community Road Safety Fund – which includes every dollar from all fines from camera-detected offences.
For a full list of approved projects in this round, see here.
