The state government has announced more than $600,000 in funding to support the Brockman Highway upgrade as part of the 2019-20 Black Spot Program.
The funding, announced by WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti on Friday, August 30, is expected to finance the first stage of the $2.76 million project in the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to widen and seal the road.
The program will see $25 million in upgrades carried out at 117 locations, 54 of which are in regional WA, to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on some of the state's worst roads.
Ms Saffioti said the program, which is a joint initiative between both the state government and local governments, was about delivering real safety benefits to road users.
"Since its inception in 2000, the Black Spot Program has delivered almost a half a billion dollars in specific safety initiatives on the WA road network for drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians," she said.
"The program aims to further improve road safety across the state, reducing the significant trauma and suffering of crash victims and their loved ones by targeting sites with a proven crash history or those with a high risk."
On Monday, September 2, South West MLC Adele Farina welcomed the funding announcement and said the upgrade would deliver a safer road for all users.
"With several lives tragically lost on Brockman Highway, the upgrade works will deliver a safer road and be welcomed by all who use the road," she said.
"I am pleased the McGowan Government is addressing this local black spot that will ensure road users will arrive at their destination safely."
Following the announcement, Ms Saffioti called on the federal government to use the $1.2 billion allocated for the Perth Freight Link project to fund a nine-year WA Regional Road Safety Strategy to address road trauma.
