More than $400 million in road safety projects are being rolled out across New South Wales, including over a hundred projects are due to commence works or be completed by June of this year.
“As someone who proudly lives, works and has raised a family in regional NSW, I know just how important safe, efficient road connections are to local communities.
“This investment won’t just save lives, it will also provide a shot in the arm to local economies as well come back from the COVID-19 recession, with these projects expected to support more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said.
This significant investment in road safety will deliver works such as installation of safety barriers, rumble strips, shoulder sealing and median upgrades.
“As part of this investment, 261 priority projects will be delivered across NSW – 150 of these on regional roads, building on our vision of a safer, stronger regional NSW.
“These projects will help prevent the loss of more than 538 loves and serious injuries on our roads over the project life - that's the difference between 538 people making it home safely to their families at the end of the day,” Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said.
In addition to the delivery of safer roads, the projects will also create jobs and provide a needed boost to the local economy and communities.
“NSW is a booming state and our urban environments are becoming busier, particularly around shopping centres, entertainment and sporting precincts, hospitals, education facilities and transport interchanges.
“Both Governments have a shared goal of no death or serious injuries on our roads, because no one should have to hear the devastating news that a loved one has lost their life in a crash,” Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said it is vital to ensure drivers get home to their loved ones safely each day.
“Whether it's just a quick trip to the shops or a truckie's long-haul journey from a business hub to markets, we want to ensure drivers get home safely.
“That's why our Government takes road safety seriously, investing in critical projects like these to help prevent crashed, making a real difference to the day-to-day lives of Australians by providing safer, smoother journeys and greater peace of mind,” Minister Buchholz said.
The more than $400 million road safety projects are being delivered under the Australian Government's Road Safety Program where projects are subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions which requires the state or territory to use their allocated funds within a timeframe or the funds will be reallocated to other jurisdictions if unused.
The first tranche of works are jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments, each contributing $$300 million and $108.2 million respectively.
Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Senator Jim Molan AO DSC