$35million allocated for the 2010-11 Safer Roads and Bridges Program

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien says the State Government has provided the first instalment towards a major boost to road safety funding in Western Australia.

The Safer Roads and Bridges Program will spend $35million on a range of projects across the State.

"This is part of a $140million package across four years," Mr O'Brien said.

"The Safer Roads Program was established to improve road safety on key WA roads and, for the first time, this year's funding also includes specific bridge projects.

"The Safer Roads and Bridges Program provide funds for road infrastructure solutions on highways and main roads, to address safety problems on the network.

"A total of $32million is allocated for safer roads improvements. These works aim to create more forgiving roads and roadsides to reduce road safety risks on the network such as single vehicle crashes and crashes at major intersections," the Minister said.

Three projects in the Perth Metropolitan region have been allocated funds under the program, at a cost of $4.84million:

·        $4million for the installation of traffic signals on Albany Highway in Bentley 

·        $348,000 on various urban highways and main roads to install pelican crossings, parallel walks and electronic speed signs

·        $500,000 to install uninterruptable power supply at various traffic signals.

Mr O'Brien said the $4million project along Albany Highway would include the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Bedford and Ewing streets, widening works and extended right-turn lanes into John Street. 

Outside the metropolitan area, the Safer Roads Program funding provides:

GREAT SOUTHERN: $3.45million on two projects

·        $3.2million to reconstruct Muirs Highway at Hay River West

·        $250,000 to complete the final seal on Muirs Highway.

SOUTH-WEST: $12.9million for 12 projects that include:

·        $4million to widen and construct a northbound passing lane on Bussell Highway, near Brambly Forrest

·        $4.2million to reconstruct and widen the Balingup North section of South West Highway

·        $2million to widen and seal shoulders on the Pinjarra Williams Road, between Marradong and Quinndanning.

GASCOYNE: $3.06million to construct one north and one south bound overtaking lane on the North West Coastal Highway between Minilya and Barradale.

PILBARA: $2million to upgrade an unsealed section of Marble Bar Road, north of Jigalong turn-off.

MID-WEST: $1.7million to realign curves on Indian Ocean Drive.

WHEATBELT SOUTH: $2million to widen and seal the Mundays Section of Brookton Highway.

WHEATBELT NORTH: $2million to seal 5.5km of shoulders and install 82km of tactile edge lines on Great Eastern Highway, between The Lakes and Northam.

The 2010-11 Safer Roads and Bridges Program also includes $3million for planning and preconstruction works to upgrade bridges including;

·       Brand Highway and North West Coast Highway, between Muchea and Roebourne

·       Great Northern Highway between Muchea and Broome

·       Great Eastern Highway, Coolgardie Esperance Highway and Eyre Highway between Midland and the South Australian border

·       Tonkin Highway, Roe Highway and Great Northern Highway between Welshpool/Kewdale and Muchea.

The bridge projects have been prioritised based on the number of heavy vehicles utilising the route.