BUSSELL Highway will benefit from part of $44million in the State Government’ new Safer Country Roads initiative.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the funding injection would improve safety across seven major South-West roads.
A total of $13.2m will be spent over two years to continue the Bussell Highway upgrade from Vasse to Margaret River.
Mowen Road will benefit from $8.6m to complete its upgrade, while Caves Road will receive $3.1m over two years to build a roundabout at the Cape Naturaliste Road intersection in Dunsborough, to widen the lane, and seal and widen shoulders.
“The State Government recognises these roads are increasingly busy, and we must do what we can to ensure they are as safe as possible,” Minister Buswell said.
“The Safer Country Roads initiative is about providing better, safer roads in regional Western Australia, to help reduce the social and economic cost of road trauma in the State and to ensure our regional road infrastructure continues to meet the growing demands of heavy vehicle traffic.”
The Safer Country Roads program is a funding pool created through combining several State Government sources, including Safer Roads, Local Roads, Royalties for Regions, and the Road Trauma Trust Account.
“Since the start of this month, the Road Trauma Trust Account (RTTA) has been receiving 100 per cent of all speed camera revenue, a decision made by the Liberal-National Government in 2011 in order to provide a significant boost to road safety across the State,” he said.
“Combined with Main Roads general funding, more than $186million will be spent on the South-West road network in 2012-13.”