Following 14 serious vehicle crashes, including one fatality at Barry Road, Coolaroo, the east-west connector road will share $17.7 million of funding with 26 other accident hotspots across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The funding boost will come from the state government’s road safety and action program after crash records were used to identify black- spot improvements that would minimise accident rates in future.
At Barry Road, $415,000 will be spent on improving intersections at Doy, King and Maffra streets to reduce the risk of head-on and rear-end crashes.
Right-turn movements will be restricted at Barry Road and Doy Street and the road widened at intersections.
The position of traffic lights will be altered to increase visibility, and extra warning signs will be erected at Barry Road, King Street and Maffra Street.
More than $109 million has been approved for 95 projects across the state as part of the Safer Road Infrastructure Program (SRIP) investment of $1 billion allocated over the next 10 years.
Transport Minister Terry Mulder said SRIP funding was used for projects that improve roads, roadsides and infrastructure, such as signage, traffic signals, lighting and kerbsides, to reduce the risk and severity of run-off road crashes or crashes at intersections.
“Projects are chosen based on an assessment of crash statistics to determine the type of crashes occurring at a particular location and, then, using that information to develop treatments that will help prevent further incidents,” Mr Mulder said.
The funding coincides with a new road safety action plan for Hume aimed at cutting the number of crashes and promoting safe driving around the city.
Hume Road Safety Action Plan 2014-17 focuses primarily on better co-ordination of road safety initiatives in the city, including safer road use and driver behaviour, safer roadsides and vehicle safety.
The plan’s objectives align with Victoria’s Road Safety Strategy 2013-22 and the Victorian Road Safety Action Plan 2013-16.
Hume’s action plan has been released for public comments until June 30. The draft plan can be downloaded at www.hume.vic.gov.au
Submissions can be addressed to Hume City Council, PO Box 119, Dallas, Victoria 3047 or sent by email to contactus@hume.vic.gov.au
