The Northern Territory will receive a range of new road safety upgrades and improvements, with $33.3 million in funding allocated by the Australian Government, and a further $13.7 million provided by the Territory Government.
Works will begin this month and are due to be completed by June 2021, and form part of the $2 billion Road Safety Program.
A total of 43 projects are set to result in safety upgrades to 150 kilometres of the Territory’s road network.
“Projects will include upgrades to regional roads, such as shoulder widening, installation of audio tactile line markings and roadside barriers, intersection safety improvements and construction of rest areas and truck stop facilities,” said Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack.
“Importantly, this is only the first batch of projects to be approved under the program for the Territory, with a total of up to $96 million available to the Northern Territory to continue to roll out lifesaving upgrades across the road network through to June 2022.”
The Australian Government’s funding for the Road Safety Program is subject to “use it or lose it” provisions and is expected to deliver lifesaving measures on regional roads.
The ‘use it or lose it’ provisions require states and territories to use their notionally allocated funds within a timeframe, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions.
Northern Territory Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Eva Lawler said the Northern Territory Government is committing $13.7 million to multiple road safety packages to deliver on its Towards Zero road safety goals.
“This investment will also create new local jobs across a number of industries, continuing our Government’s focus on economic development and jobs for Territorians, while also supporting new infrastructure projects. I am also pleased that funding will enable preparatory works to commence on the long awaited Tiger Brennan Drive/Berrimah Road overpass, where a number of people have lost their lives.”
Senator for Northern Territory Dr Sam McMahon said one of the key projects expected to be rolled out across the life of the program is the construction of an overpass at the Tiger Brennan Drive/Berrimah Interchange, which is one of the Territory’s busiest intersections.
“Through this first tranche of the Road Safety Program we are seeing $5 million to get this critical project underway, which once finalised will improve traffic flow for commuter and industrial/commercial traffic and reduce crashes at this intersection,” added McMahon.