New $33.3m investment to deliver road safety improvements across VIC

Through the 2024-25 Black Spot Program, the Australian Government is investing $33.3 million to deliver works that will improve safety at 56 known crash sites across Victoria. 

Safety measures to be implemented under the latest round of funding will include traffic lights, safety barriers, roundabouts, line marking and pedestrian safety treatments. These works build on previous investments across the State and will help to significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries or fatalities on Victorian roads. 

“We welcome this $33 million investment to improve safety of sites right across our state to ensure more Victorians can get home to their loved ones safely. 

“We’ve identified and assessed spots right across our state – this program will upgrade sites ranging from Mildura and Shepparton right down to Gippsland and our Surf Coast,” VIC Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said. 

“This significant $33.3 million investment will deliver safety improvements to 56 high-risk locations on Victorian roads which have a proven history of crashes. 

“The Albanese Government is committed to supporting road safety projects across Victoria and this investment, under the 2024-25 Black Spot Program, will help reduce the number of crashes. 

“Road safety, of course, is a shared responsibility, and this is a timely reminder to be extra vigilant and to slow down on the roads so everyone can get home safely from every journey,” Federal Senator for Victoria Raff Ciccone said. 

Projects being funded in this round of the Black Spot Program include: 

• $1.365 million for Eramosa Road and Graf Road in Somerville to install area-wide 40km/h speed with associated signs and 40km/h pavement markings as well as implementing speed reduction traffic management treatments 
• $1.376 million for Calder Highway and Belar Avenue in Irymple to widen the road and install a painted separator between the through lane and left turn lane as well as reconstructing the intersection pavement and install safety barriers to shield power poles 
• $1.224 million for MacArthur Street and Lansdowne Street in Sale to install a single lane roundabout, including pedestrian and cycling facilities 

“The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics has found that Black Spot projects reduce the number of crashes causing death and injury by 30 per cent on average. 

“At these 56 sites, we’ve seen 300 crashes occur in the five years to 2021. These figures make a clear case for the safety improvements that we’re announcing today. 

“I know there is more work to be done, and encourage anyone who knows of a dangerous road location near them to consider submitting a nomination for future funding rounds,” Federal Member for Bendigo and Chair of the Victorian Black Spot Consultative Panel Lisa Chesters said. 

“On behalf of the Maroondah community, I am extremely pleased that this busy, local intersection in East Ringwood will receive Black Spot funding. 

“Council is pleased that its advocacy, and project design, which addresses the community’s safety concerns, has been supported by the Australian and Victorian governments and we look forward to implementing this signalisation of this intersection to significantly improve pedestrian and vehicle safety,” Maroondah Mayor Kylie Spears said. 

The Australian Government has increased funding for the Black Spot Program, progressively rising from $110 million to $150 million annually. 

This is part of the Australian Government’s response to the worsening road toll, including doubling the funding for Roads to Recovery from $500 million to $1 billion a year alongside the delivery of a nationally harmonised set of high-quality and timely data to inform road safety decision making. 

You can find more information on the Black Spot Program, nominate a black spot and see the full list of projects in Victoria under the program here. 

“I am pleased to announce this latest round of Black Spot projects in Victoria, which will improve roads across the state. 

“Every death on Victorian roads is a tragedy and could have been avoided. 

“Local communities know where their most dangerous road locations are and their ability to nominate projects under this program and work with state and local experts in reviewing nominations is why this program is so successful. 

“With the recent announcement of our increased commitment to this long-running program, I strongly encourage individuals, organisations, and local governments to nominate sites in their local communities for consideration in the next round of funding,” Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said. 

Source: Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Infrastructure Magazine