Wednesday, 15 February 2017

The Andrews Labor Government is boosting safety in Gippsland with works beginning on the Koo Wee Rup-Longwarry Road and the Wonthaggi-Korumburra Road.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced that investing $2.36 million in these upgrades will help to reduce the severity of crashes by 50 per cent.

Works will include the installation of flexible safety barriers, shoulder sealing at high-risk locations, curve warning signs, pavement marking, the removal of hazards such as vegetation and upgrades to guideposts.

The signage improvements, guideposts and pavement markings will help drivers to better anticipate hazards while safety barriers will prevent vehicles from leaving the road.

Throughout the five year period ending 30 June 2014, there have been a total of nine crashes on the Koo-Wee Rup-Longwarry Road, including six serious injury crashes.

On the Wonthaggi-Korumburra Road, there have been 47 crashes over a five year period ending 31 December 2013, including 16 serious injury crashes.

The Safe System Road Infrastructure Program is funded by the Transport Accident Commission and delivered by VicRoads. This program is an important part of the Government’s Towards Zero road safety vision which is to have a 15 per cent reduction in serious injuries and less than 200 deaths on Victorian roads by 2020.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“These Gippsland roads have been the site of run-off road crashes – particularly in rainy conditions, at dusk and when glare is high – and we’re taking action to fix them.”

“These upgrades will help all road users to slow down on curves and will reduce the risk of drivers hitting roadside hazards should they veer off the road.”