$10M for major freight road safety upgrades in WA

The Federal and Western Australian Governments have committed $10 million for two packages of road safety works in WA.

Toodyay Road at Jingaling Brook and Harper Brook and the Great Eastern Highway near El Caballo will receive the upgrades.

At Toodyay Road, $7 million will be spent to perform reconstruction works around Jingaling Brook and two kilometres of widening works at Harper Brook.

To reduce head on crashes, audible edge lines and a one-metre wide centreline treatment will be installed alongside a newly constructed westbound overtaking lane around 14 kilometres outside of Toodyay.

The remaining $3 million will be spent to replace an ageing bridge on the Great Eastern Highway over Coates Gully near El Caballo.

Coates Gully Bridge carries around 6400 vehicles daily, 17 per cent of which are heavy vehicles, and is on a critical freight route to the Eastern States.

The two projects are expected to create 45 and 20 jobs respectively.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the state government is committed to upgrading and maintaining our regional roads, which is why we welcome this additional investment in key regional infrastructure by the Federal Government.

“Toodyay Road is a key route out to the Wheatbelt, and this funding will improve safety and efficiency while also creating and supporting local jobs,” she said.

“We are also investing significant funds to widen two road over rail bridges between Walgoolan and Southern Cross on Great Eastern Highway, which will create and support regional jobs.”

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