$5.2 million boost for road safety in Gembrook district

The  Brumby  Labor  Government  today  announced $5.2 million worth of road upgrades to improve safety on local road networks in the Gembrook district.

Roads  and  Ports  Minister  Tim Pallas was joined in Beaconsfield today by Member  for  Gembrook  Tammy  Lobato  to  announce  funding for road safety treatments for the busy Beaconsfield-Emerald Road.

“The  Brumby  Labor Government is taking action to improve Victoria’s roads because  we  understand  how  important these safety benefits are for local communities,” Mr Pallas said. “This is a wonderful result for motorists and our local community.”

“Roads  are an important part of Victoria’s economic and social development – connecting our towns and suburbs, ensuring efficient freight movement and creating jobs.

“This funding will include major works to construct run-off road treatments on  Beaconsfield-Emerald Road, between Princes Highway East in Beaconsfield and  north  of  Station  Avenue  in  Emerald,  aimed  at preventing serious accidents.”

Mr  Pallas  said  in  the  five  years  to June 2008 there were 56 casualty crashes,   including  six  fatalities,  between  Princes  Highway  East  in Beaconsfield  and  north of Station Avenue, Emerald. About 78.6 per cent of those were run-off road crashes.

“Works  to  improve  safety  will  include  high-skid resistance surfacing, shoulder  sealing  and  the installation of guard rail and wire rope safety barriers,” he said.

Ms  Lobato  said  additional  guide  posts, high intensity line-marking and raised  reflective  pavement  markers  would also increase safety along the road.

“Providing  safer  roads contributes to economic development, enhances road safety  and  ensures  our roads continue to service the community well into the future,” she said.

“These  projects  are  the  result of consultation with the community about what  they needed to improve their transport networks – this is a wonderful result for motorists and our local community.”

The projects are part of the Safer Road Infrastructure Program to which the Brumby Labor Government has committed $650 million over the next 10 years.