So far $110 million has been spent to upgrade 1050 kilometres of state roads in WA’s Mid West Gascoyne, with a further $67 million in funding on the table to deliver further projects in the region.
All funded by the Regional Road Safety Program, there are three additional projects due to be completed before the end of the year and two further projects scheduled to commence in early 2025.
The Regional Road Safety Program works to prevent single vehicle run off road crashes, which are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on regional roads, by installing treatments like widened and sealed shoulders, and audible edge lines.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says the Regional Road Safety Program is the biggest road safety program ever delivered in Western Australia.
“We know single vehicle run off road crashes are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on our roads, and these types of upgrades provide an additional safety net and warning to drivers if they start to drift off the road,” she said.
The three projects due for completion in the Mid West Gascoyne before the end of the year include:
- 85km of Great Northern Highway between Meekatharra and Karalundi
- 46km of Midlands Road between Mingenew Morawa Road and Brand Highway
- 17km of Brand Highway between Indian Ocean Drive and Midlands Road
Two additional projects are scheduled to commence early 2025 including:
- 80km of Great Northern Highway between Mt Magnet and Cue
- 38km of Great Northern Highway between Cue and Tuckanarra
Major roads that have already received upgrades through the program include:
- 343km of North West Coastal Highway
- 256km of Great Northern Highway
- 137km of Brand Highway
- 98km of Indian Ocean Drive
Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton added, “When you live in Geraldton, you will often be driving on major State roads like the North West Coastal Highway, Brand Highway and Indian Ocean Drive, and making those roads safer is an absolute priority for our Government.
“We’ve seen a huge investment into these roads in recent years, helping to make them safer than they have ever been.
“We need to continue investing into our road network to make sure it remains as safe and efficient as possible, and I will continue to advocate for further funding on behalf of our community.”
The Regional Road Safety Program was launched in 2020, and since that time, more than $1 billion has been invested by the state and federal governments, with over 9000km of the state’s regional road network upgraded.
By the middle of next year, the program is expected to reach the 10,000km milestone with the majority of state-controlled regional roads upgraded.