State Black Spot spending reaches $216million

Upgrades and safety improvements will be carried out at 173 locations on the Western Australian road network under the latest State Black Spot Program.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien announced this year's program today, saying that since its inception in 2000, Black Spot funding had reached $216million.

He said the $25million program in 2010-11 would cover 87 projects in the Perth metropolitan area and 86 in rural WA. It comprised 26 State road projects and 147 local road projects.

Funding is split between the State ($20million) and local government ($5million).

"This is an important and ongoing partnership with local government that focuses on improving safety for all road users at critical locations throughout the road network," Mr O'Brien said.

"In the 10 years since the program was established under the Court Coalition Government, $216.25million has been spent on 2,011 road safety initiatives throughout the State.

"The funding has included $173million from the State and $43.25million from local government.

"This is an outstanding contribution from these two tiers of government towards reducing road trauma throughout the State."

Projects in the 2010-11 State Black Spot Program include:

·          $1million for completion of intersection modifications at North Beach and Karrinyup roads (City of Stirling)

·          $750,000 to begin modifications to the intersection of Morley Drive and McGilivray Avenue (City of Bayswater) (total cost $1.050million)

·          $900,000 to complete the installation of traffic signals and improvements to the Orrong Road-Pilbara Street intersection (City of Canning)

·          $900,000 for the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Armadale and Warton roads (City of Armadale)

·          $160,000 for the installation of traffic signals at Piccadilly and Chapple streets and Lionel and MacDonald streets in Kalgoorlie-Boulder

·          $210,000 for construction of a traffic roundabout at North and Barnesby roads, Albany

·          $70,000 to widen the seal and improve edging on the Wingebellup Road in Cranbrook, between the Kojonup-Frankland and Ferngrove roads

·          $40,000 to begin improvements to Speedway Road in Carnarvon

·          $161,000 to begin construction of a sealed passing lane on the south side of the Coorow-Greenhead Road near Penn Road.

For full details of allocations under the 2010-11 State Black Spot Program go to http://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/understandingroads/roadsafety/blackspotprogram/.