FEDERAL FUNDING TO FIX 51 BLACK SPOTS IN QUEENSLAND

Fifty-one dangerous crash sites in Queensland will be substantially improved under the latest round of the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government’s Black Spot Program.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the state would receive $25.3 million under the Black Spot Program’s 2020–21 funding round.

“The Federal Government’s record investment into upgrading roads is saving lives right across the nation,” Mr McCormack said.

“No matter where you live, we want to help get Australians home to their families sooner and safer – especially regional Australians who make up about a quarter of our national population but account for more than half of the roads deaths.

“The Black Spot Program funds important safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where a number of serious crashes have occurred.

“The 51 Black Spot projects across Queensland will therefore make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on our roads.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said this investment in Black Spot projects would deliver safer roads in local government areas throughout the state.

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

“The high-priority locations we are funding have seen a total of 12 fatal and 233 crashes causing injuries recorded over the past five years.”

The panel which reviews priorities for the program includes representatives from the Queensland Police Service, Royal Automobile Club of Queensland, Queensland Trucking Association, Bicycle Queensland, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (Queensland University of Technology) and state and local government.

The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government has committed $1 billion to the Black Spot Program from 2013–14 to 2022–23 to improve road safety across the nation.

For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit: http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots/.