Truckies are being promised safer routes right across NSW by the end of June in a state-wide road fix blitz.
More than $400 million is being spent on 261 priority projects – 150 of those on regional roads – as part of the Road Safety Program, which has ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ spending provisions in phase one.
In total, the Australian Government has committed up to $300 million and the NSW Government a further $108.2 million to fund the most urgent state-wide upgrades identified by the Office of Road Safety and Transport for NSW.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said safety barriers, rumble strips and wide centrelines were among the measures being rolled out.
“This investment won’t just save lives, it will also provide a shot in the arm to local economies as we come back from the COVID-19 recession, with these projects expected to support more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs,” said Toole.
“These projects will help prevent the loss of more than 538 lives 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.”
The release says to visit the Office of Road Safety website for more information but Big Rigs couldn’t find any specific details on where the money is going, other than a reference to $23 million being spent on rumble strips.
“Transport for NSW directly delivers or coordinates local councils to deliver projects under the Program,” said a post on the website.
Transport for NSW has been approached for more specifics on how the spend will help truckies.
The Daily Telegraph reported today that the jointly-funded projects include more than $50m to improve school zone 40km/h speed signs, more than $20m for works along the Pacific Highway, and more than $15m to improve bushfire resilience by removing high risk trees and upgrading road infrastructure.
There’ll be $13m for works along Waterfall Way, $12m to upgrade the Sturt Highway, and $7m for the Hume Highway.