More projects earmarked to reduce run-off-road crashes on rural roads

The WA State Government has announced further seven run-off road projects to improve safety on sections of regional roads. The further seven projects, worth $17.5 million, have been identified as presenting a higher risk for run-off crashes. The latest allocation brings the State Government's 2019-20 investment in regional run-off roads to $42.5 million.

Each of the latest seven projects has been funded from the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) and will upgrade approximately 60 kilometres of regional road.

Projects have been identified and prioritised based on having an aboveaverage single vehicle run-off-road crash risk using Main Roads modelling.

Road safety treatments to be carried out include road widening, shoulder sealing and the installation of safety barriers, audible lines and pavement markings. Construction of the projects is scheduled to begin this financial year and include roads in the Great Southern, SouthWest, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid-West, Wheatbelt, and Pilbara regions. The latest allocation of $17.5 million complements other works underway this financial year to mitigate single vehicle runoff road crashes.

This year the McGowan Government has committed a further $25 million for shoulder widening and audible edge lines along with a number of key regional routes. These works - already underway or nearing completion - include upgrades to Indian Ocean Drive, Great Eastern Highway, Brookton Highway, South Western Highway, Pinjarra-Williams Road, and Collie-Lake King Road.

The McGowan Government continues to seek a funding partnership with the Federal Government to accelerate delivery of the Regional Road Safety Program.

The proposed partnership would upgrade 17,000 kilometres of regional roads and drastically reduce regional road trauma. It would be delivered over nine years at a cost of a total of $100 million a year.

In 2017, 46 people were killed and 280 people were seriously injured in run-offroad crashes in regional Western Australia. Regional Run-Off Road Crashes program projects scheduled to begin in 2019-20 include: The RTTA receives 100 percent of revenue from speed and red light camera infringements to invest in initiatives that deliver a road safety benefit.

Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts said, "We know that single-vehicle run-off crashes are one of the biggest causes of fatal and serious injury crashes in regional Western Australia.

"We're seeing more and more crashes caused by simple errors of judgement or moments of inattention.

"Safety treatments like widening the road, installing safety barriers and sealing the shoulders will create a safer environment on those high-risk roads. "Every year we devote a significant portion of the RTTA budget for safety treatments to our regional roads and we are making steady progress.

"We could significantly expand these works with the implementation of a Federal-State partnership.

"Minister Saffioti and I have written to the Federal Transport Minister and urge him to allocate this much-needed funding.

Project

Albany Highway, Kojonup to Balgarup Road Great Southern

Pinjarra-Williams Road, Dwellingup to Murray Shire Boundary South-West Great Eastern Highway (West of Anzac Drive) Goldfields-Esperance Collie-Lake King Road, Wagin to Dumbleyung Wheatbelt

North West Coastal Highway Pilbara

Brand Highway, Regans Ford Mid-West Indian Ocean Drive, Lancelin to Cervantes Mid-West

RTTA Budget

$3,850,000

$1,200,000

$3,800,000

$1,146,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

Work description

Widen road to 11m with sealed shoulders to 2m Install safety barriers at selected locations Install pavement marking, audible lines, and minor intersection treatments Widen road to 11m with 2m sealed shoulders Improve clear zone Install pavement markings and audible lines

Widen road to 11m with 2m sealed shoulders Install pavement markings and audible lines

Widen road to 9m with 1m sealed shoulders Install pavement markings and audible lines

Widen to 11m with 2m sealed shoulders Improve clear zone Install safety barriers at selected locations Install pavement markings and audible lines Widen to 9m with 1m sealed shoulders Install pavement markings and audible lines

$345,000 Install audible lines