More than $30 million will be injected into road safety projects in the Central West.
The improvements are part of hundreds of road safety projects being rolled out across New South Wales, in a $408 million blitz designed to reduce road trauma and save lives.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Australian and NSW Governments were working tirelessly to ensure work starts immediately and is completed by June to get people home sooner and safer.
“As someone who proudly lives, works and has raised a family in regional NSW, I know just how important safe, efficient road connections are to local communities,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“That’s why we are rolling out this funding to deliver lifesaving upgrades including shoulder sealing, rumble strips to alert drivers when they are moving out of their lane, median upgrades to prevent head-on collisions and barriers to prevent run-off-road crashes and protect against roadside hazards.
“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.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said as part of the investment, 150 of the 261 priority projects will focus on regional roads, with four to be carried out in Bathurst and Orange, building on our vision of a safer, stronger regional NSW.
“Work will include a $3 million investment on the Mitchell Highway between Bathurst and Orange, $14.7 million on the Great Western Highway between Lithgow and Bathurst and $12 million on the Newell Highway near Forbes, for road widening, installing rumble strips, centre wire rope safety barrier, wide centre line and roadside safety barriers,” Mr Toole said.
“Both Governments are doing everything possible to get Central West residents home sooner and safer.
“We know how important these upgrades will be to our local community and that’s why we are funding them.”