Road safety works for black spots

MORE-than five million dollars’ worth of Federal Government 2024–25 Black Spot Program funding is going to road improvement works at dangerous sites across Ballarat and the Golden Plains Shire.

The intersection of Greenhalghs Road and Finchs Road in Haddon, where there have been many accidents and near misses, has been allocated $2 million of Black Spot funding and $976,000 from the City of Ballarat, to construct a roundabout, splitter islands, and raised safety platforms.

Gumley Road, 2.7 kilometres north of Rokewood-Shelford Road between Rokewood and Mount Mercer, has been allocated $1,912,000 of Black Spot funding for curve shoulder widening through, safety barriers, improved delineation, and signs.

Right-hand turn signals will be installed at Doveton and Eyre streets in Ballarat with $265,650, alongside better lane markings, and Avenue and Henderson roads in Burrumbeet have been allocated $944,000 for splitter islands, rumble strips, raised safety platforms, better signage and street lights.

Member for Ballarat Catherine King, also the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said the aim to is to prevent road injuries and fatalities.

“The recent federal budget baked in significant increases to both the Black Spot Funding Program and Roads to Recovery because we are committed to supporting local and state governments to make our local roads safer,” she said.

“This means more money for local roads and less pressure on rate payers.

“Each one of these four locations receiving funding has been selected because of its history with accidents. Every injury and every death on our roads is a tragedy.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility and something we all need to work together to prevent.

“The great thing about this program is that it is people themselves who can nominate projects for funding.

“Locals who drive these roads every day know best how dangerous they can be and which areas are most ripe for improvement. I encourage individuals and organisations to nominate sites for consideration in the next round of funding.”

City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Des Hudson thanked the Federal Government for making the works possible.

“Maintenance and upgrades of roads is an ongoing issue faced by all regional and rural councils and financial support that is accessible in a streamlined process is certainly welcomed,” he said.

A speed zone reduction review is also expected to take place near the Greenhalghs Road and Finchs Road site.