The Victorian Government is working with councils to identify, plan and deliver local road safety upgrades through its $210 million Safer Local Roads and Streets Program.
Works funded through the program have begun, with councils delivering vital upgrades over the next three years.
The Victorian Government is allocating up to $2 million each to 79 councils across the state and will provide a wide range of safety improvements until 30 June 2027 – with projects set to deliver new raised crossings, upgrades to kerbs, intersections, roundabouts and pedestrian islands.
Already, the City of Greater Geelong has delivered the first of the program’s projects in Clifton Springs, where a new roundabout and raised pedestrian crossing was installed last month.
Works are set to begin in Brimbank later in November to build new speed humps across three local roads to encourage slower speeds along the 1.5km stretch of straight road.
Local government authorities own and operate 87 per cent of Victoria’s roads, and every year about 40 per cent of road trauma occurs on council-managed roads.
The Safer Local Roads and Streets Program is backed by the Government’s 2030 Road Safety Strategy targets – which aims to halve road deaths, reduce serious injury and ultimately achieve zero trauma by 2050.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, said, “Working alongside Victoria’s councils, we’re delivering important upgrades on local roads today, so our communities are safer into the future.”
Head of Road Safety Victoria, Marcelo Vidales, said, “As part of Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy, we’re partnering with local government and communities to reduce trauma on Victorian roads and streets including those around our homes, schools and workplaces.”
Transport Accident Commission CEO Tracey Slatter, said, “This program represents a collaborative approach to addressing road safety concerns across our state; working together towards a safe environment for all road users.”
