Federal funding for black spot sites

FUNDING from the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program has been allocated to fix four sites throughout Ballarat.

More than $978,000 has been assigned for the approved projects, which Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said will improve road conditions for the area.

“By improving these known danger spots, we are working to make sure that road users across Ballarat get home safely, every trip,” she said.

“The Black Spot Program provides funding to improve road safety where it’s needed most.”

Black Spot funding is spent locations with a high risk to pedestrians or car crashes, with cash going towards additions like traffic signals and roundabouts.

From the funding, $50,000 will go towards traffic lights at the Dyson Drive and Coltman Plaza intersection while the Eureka and Fussell streets roundabout will receive $354,000 for upgrades.

A roundabout will be constructed at the Ripon Street South and Urquhart Street intersection for $464,000, and pedestrian and cyclist safety will be the focus of $160,000 for the Eureka Street and Otway Street South intersection.

The Ripon Street South and Urquhart Street intersection was the site of three fatal crashes between 2015 and 2020.

Projects are given Black Spot funding with the assistance of a panel of road and traffic representatives and anyone can nominate a site for the program.

Ms King applauded the community input involved in the initiative.

“That’s the great thing about the Black Spot Program, anyone can suggest an intersection or a section of road they believe should considered for a safety upgrade,” she said.