- Investment further to hundreds of millions of dollars of State road projects which will benefit the northern suburbs
- McGowan Government invests $20 million in 2018-19 for Black Spot Program
- Black Spot Program enables local governments to address local road problems
- Program is part of the McGowan Government's wider job-creating $3.2 billion investment into WA road projects
- Road improvements support access to METRONET - Yanchep Rail Extension
Dangerous local roads in the Wanneroo and Burns Beach areas will be improved through the Black Spot Program, further strengthening the McGowan Government's significant investment towards improving access to the northern corridor road and rail network.
The annual program provides funding to make Western Australia's local roads safer for all road users, with this year's program to improve 59 metropolitan locations and 60 regional locations.
Premier Mark McGowan joined Wanneroo MLA Sabine Winton and Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard to inspect some of the hotspots known for crashes and near misses in these areas.
Some of the local projects that are being targeted as part of the Black Spot Program include:
- $154,667 for Joondalup Drive and Pinjar Road, Tapping;
- $146,667 for Wesco Road, Nowergup;
- $40,000 for Breakwater Drive, Two Rocks; and
- $40,000 for Marmion Avenue and Moore Drive, Currambine.
Works to improve these black spots range from the installation of edge lines, guide posts, reflective raised pavement markers, improving road delineation, seagull island installation and the extension of median islands to control turning points and improve approaches to roundabouts.
These improvements complement other State road developments in the northern corridor, including $115 million of funding for two interchanges along Wanneroo Road at Joondalup Drive and Ocean Reef Road - a key McGowan Government election commitment.
The $31 million Wanneroo Road widening project between Joondalup Drive and Flynn Drive is near completion, and will further provide safer and faster journeys to homes and businesses in the northern suburbs.
Further north, the State Government has invested $23 million towards the dual carriage upgrade of Marmion Avenue to Yanchep, delivering a key election commitment to ease congestion and create jobs.
The planned extension of Mitchell Freeway from Hester Avenue to Romeo Road will also provide a considerable reduction in travel times for people travelling to the northern coastal suburbs.
In the recent State Budget, the McGowan Government committed $15 million to widen Mitchell Freeway northbound between Hutton Street and Cedric Street, which is now the fifth project set to get underway as part of Perth's freeway transformation.
This funding injection is further to the $40 million investment to widen the southbound lanes of the Mitchell Freeway between Cedric and Vincent streets.
These major State road projects coupled with the McGowan Government's METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension will ease congestion to and from the rapidly growing northern suburbs, making this corridor far more accessible and ensuring the road and rail network is safer and simpler while creating more WA jobs.
The Black Spot Program is a joint State-local government initiative, with the McGowan Government providing $20 million and local governments funding the remaining $5 million.
The program targets improvements to roads with a proven crash history and cost-effective treatments for high-risk intersections.
For full details of the 2018-19 Local Road Black Spot Program schedule, visit the Main Roads website.
The Black Spot Program is part of the McGowan Government's wider job-creating $3.2 billion investment into road projects in Western Australia, with more than $136 million in funding allocated to road safety projects in 2018-19.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"As a regular road user myself, often travelling close to a hundred kilometres a day, I know the real difference improved roads can make on the daily commute.
"The Black Spot Program is vital in ensuring our local roads we frequent can be upgraded to improve road safety for everyone whether they are drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists or pedestrians.
"I'm pleased my Government is investing significantly into job-creating road projects that improve our road networks across the State - making it safer for Western Australians."
Comment attributed to Wanneroo MLA Sabine Winton:
"Improving road safety and the local road network are key concerns local residents and businesses raise with me regularly. This program ensures that some of the local roads of concern can be addressed."
Comment attributed to Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard:
"The northern corridor continues to expand rapidly with the many development projects and local growth. It's essential that our local road network can maintain the anticipated growth of the area, helping all road users to travel in a safer manner."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
