The Hunter region will benefit from more than $2.33 million from the NSW Government to improve road safety in the area.
The funding is part of a $202 million investment to deliver vital safety upgrades to regional roads, as the Minns Labor Government continues work to reduce the New South Wales road toll and reduce the tragic impact of road trauma on communities across the state.
Delivered as part of the New South Wales Government’s $2.8 billion road safety budget, round two of the Towards Zero-Safer Roads Program, will support 72 separate road safety projects across regional, rural and remote parts of the state.
Despite regional communities only accounting for a third of the state’s population, tragically, deaths on regional roads make up approximately two thirds of all road deaths.
The Towards Zero – Safer Roads Program, is a road safety infrastructure upgrade and speed management program aimed at delivering sustainable and long-term reduction in road trauma across the NSW road network by addressing high risk locations.
Upgrades to improve safety may include, installing safety barriers and shoulder widening to help reduce the risk of crashes on higher speed country roads.
Roads to benefit from the funding in the Hunter include:
- T C Frith Avenue, Speers Point – $179,300
- Wangi Road, Toronto – $311,672
- Pacific Highway, Pampoolah – $423,522
- Maitland Road, Mayfield – $670,103
- Kamilaroi Highway, Quipolly Creek – $383,873
- Kamilaroi Highway, Tall Crown – $367,538
A full list of regional road safety upgrades to be delivered under this funding can be found here: https://towardszero.nsw.gov.au/safesystem/safe-roads
Yasmin Catley, Minister for the Hunter said:
“Having the best road infrastructure in place can mean the difference between life and death, and our goal is to give road users the best possible chance in the event of an accident.
“We want our roads in the Hunter to be safe for residents who use the roads every day as well as people visiting our beautiful region, and this funding will help make that a reality.
“From improving sign visibility to increasing the space between traffic travelling in opposite directions, even the smallest upgrades can make a difference.”
Jenny Aitchison, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads said:
“With $202 million to target and improve safety on roads in our regional areas, lives will be saved.
“These upgrades will make our roads safer for all road users, locals and visitors, and this investment will go a long way towards achieving the goal of ensuring everyone gets home safely every time to their loved ones.
“The projects under this program vary in size, location and cost, but the really important thing they have in common is that they will all improve the safety of the people driving on them.”