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Government pledges $30 million for WA heavy vehicle safety

Up to 15 Western Australian projects will share in more than $30.9 million in heavy vehicle safety funding it was confirmed last week.

Up to 15 Western Australian projects will share in more than $30.9 million in heavy vehicle safety funding it was confirmed last week.Up to 15 Western Australian projects will share in more than $30.9 million in heavy vehicle safety funding it was confirmed last week.

The projects are to be jointly funded by Federal, State and local governments.

In a bid to increase the capacity of existing roads and improve connections to the nation’s key freight routes, the State Government has pledged $6 million towards improving roads, rest stops and road train assembly areas across Western Australia.

It is expected the completion of the projects will increase productivity across the country while making crucial upgrades to safety.

The Federal Government has committed $13.7 million to the projects as part of its Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.

Local government funding will contribute an additional $11 million.

The joint fund will include $3.3 million towards a road train assembly area at the intersection of North West Coastal Highway and Madigan Road intersections in Karratha; an additional $2.8 million to widen and upgrade several key intersections on the Gascoyne Key Route in the Shire of Upper Gascoyne.

Upgrades to the intersection of Piggingarra Road and the Great Northern Highway at Newman have also been rubber stamped along with $1 milliion to widen and strengthen 18.79 kilometres of road and build a 40-metre concrete floodway on Baandee North Road near North Baandee.

“Western Australia is a vast State with significant heavy vehicle road traffic, particularly throughout regional areas which may not have the infrastructure to support this level of freight,” Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.

“This funding will be used to upgrade existing rest stops, build new rest stops and construct new layover bays, providing drivers with more opportunities to take a break or reconfigure their trailers and for large loads to park up to allow other traffic to pass,” she said.

“As well as being incredibly beneficial to heavy vehicle drivers, these projects will ensure we continue to improve safety outcomes for all road users.

“This funding will help make sure more drivers – whether of heavy or standard vehicles – make it home safe every day.”


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