The Australian and New South Wales Governments are providing significant contributions towards the Road Safety Program to support the delivery of 230 life-saving projects across urban and regional roads.
The additional $437.3 million contribution will bring the total investment to $518.3 million across 2023-2024 to 2025-2026.
The funding boost will ensure greater levels of safety at each of the project’s locations, to help reduce the risk of crashes that could cause fatal or serious injuries.
“This almost half a billion dollars’ worth of new funding is all part of our collective commitment to significantly reduce the number of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads, and I thank the NSW Government for their collaboration on this.
“It’s critical that we continue to support safety projects in regional and metropolitan areas across the country as Australia’s road toll is far too high, with 2024 on track to be one of the deadliest years on our roads.
“The wider Road Safety Program forms part of the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitment to work with state and territory governments to fund the priority road safety works they identify.
“These projects won’t just improve safety, they will also support thousands of construction jobs across the state and build on the 49 project already announced for the Greater Sydney area in late May,” Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm said.
The projects will include pedestrian infrastructure upgrades such as wombat crossings at busy areas near various primary schools.
The Road Safety Program will also deliver:
Roundabouts will be installed or upgraded on Werombi Road in Grasmere, Barry Road in North Kellyville, Fitzwilliam Road in Toongabbie, Flower Street in Maroubra and Clovelly Road in Clovelly.
Meanwhile, intersection improvement projects will deliver new traffic signals at Rutherford Avenue and New Illawarra Road in Lucas Heights, and at Old Princes Highway and Glencoe Street in Sutherland. Safety improvements will also be carried out at four intersections along Old Northern Road Corridor between Dural and Maroota.
“The rising number of fatalities on roads across Australia is extremely concerning and today we pledge more support for vital road safety projects at a local level where improvements make a big difference to reduce crashes, and reducing injuries and trauma.
“Whether it is fences to protect pedestrians, new traffic signals or improving an intersection with a roundabout, the Road Safety Program will deliver improvements to roads and highways that will deliver safety benefits for years to come.
“In the recent NSW and federal budgets, we confirmed our $2.8 billion partnership in road safety over four years, delivering on commitments in the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan,” NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said.
The Road Safety Program will also support safety improvements in regional New South Wales, along sections of the Barton, Great Western, Illawarra, Kamilaroi, Kings, New England, Oxley, Princes and Snowy Mountains highways as well as Big River, Burley Griffin, Goldfields, Kidman and Waterfall Ways.
The program will also deliver other projects such as safety upgrades and intersection improvements on local roads, shared cycle and pedestrian paths, pedetrian safety upgrades in urban areas, and school zone safety upgrades across Greater Sydney and regional areas.
About 174 signalised intersections will also be upgraded under the program to help enhance pedestrian safety. The upgrades will include improving pedestrian crossings, installing additional signals, and adjusting left and right-turn signal phasing to provide better protection for pedestrians while crossing.
“Regional NSW is home to one-third of the NSW population, but accounts for nearly two-thirds of road fatalities in the state.
“Reducing road trauma on country roads is a top priority for this Government. The $262 million investment in regional NSW infrastructure will help improve road safety, reduce road trauma, and make journeys safer for all who live in and travel through regional NSW.
“Our goal is simple: everyone on our roads should return home safely to their loved ones. This investment is a crucial step toward making that a reality,” NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison MP said.
Source: Assistant Minister for Regional Development; Transport for NSW; Infrastructure Magazine; Roads & Infrastructure Australia