Funding to fix road black spots

THE federal government will contribute more than $3 million towards fixing eight dangerous sections of road across the Geelong region through the Black Spot Program.

Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson announced the funding for the works last week.

The projects include:

• $730,000 for Barrabool Road curve near Barwon River in Belmont to widen the road at curve and construct flat top road humps and associated works and improve lighting
• $500,000 for Forest Road from Gum Flats Road to Nortons Road in Anglesea to widen shoulder seal at curves, install guardrail with rubrail, chevron alignment markers, warning and speed advisory signs
• $499,800 for Horseshoe Bend Road from McCanns Road to west of Thompson Creek in Mount Duneed to widen shoulder seal and install edge lines, guideposts and Raised Reflective Pavement Markers (RRPMs), install guardrail, rubrail and speed advisory signs, install vehicles activated sign and reduce the speed limit in one section to 60kmh
• $309,800 for the intersection of High Street and Watson Avenue in Belmont to install splitter island on Watson Avenue and right turn auxiliary lane on High Street and install lighting, and
• $129,900 for William Street from Otway Street to Smith Street in Lorne to apply skid resistance overlay (Otway and Smith Streets), install truck warning/advisory signs, linemarking and RRPMs.

Ms Henderson said community input had been critical to identifying key black spots in the Corangamite and Corio electorates.

“Road crashes place major emotional and economic strains on all affected communities but particularly the families and friends of the victims.

“None of these projects would be delivered without the community’s vital input, and I’d encourage all residents and motorists in the region to nominate projects for future funding rounds.”

She said the federal government is providing $744.5 million to the Black Spot Program between 2013-14 and 2021-22.

For more information on the Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, head to investment.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/black_spot.