Work will start immediately on $6m worth of road safety measures across Canberra. Photo: File.
Work is set to begin immediately on the installation of more CCTV cameras at key intersections, road safety barriers and traffic calming measures in a bid to further improve road safety in Canberra.
The new measures will be funded through a joint Commonwealth-ACT road safety package announced on Thursday with the ACT Government matching a $3 million contribution from the Commonwealth’s $2 billion Road Safety Program.
Works will also include improvements to walking and cycling safety around schools.
Roads Minister Chris Steel said the CCTV cameras would be installed at 26 key locations, including busy intersections like William Hovell Drive and Coulter Drive in Belconnen, and Athllon Drive and Soward Way in Tuggeranong, meaning officers from Roads ACT can respond to road network issues in real time.
He said the new Live Traffic Monitoring CCTV cameras would join 18 cameras that currently feed into the ACT Government Traffic Management Centre.
The funding would also be used to install a number of raised pedestrian crossings and speed cushions across the ACT at locations such as Phillip Avenue, Majura Avenue and Ellerston Avenue.
“With this funding, the ACT Government is investing in road safety projects that benefit all road users including cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Steel said.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said there would be an immediate start to the works.
“The Australian Government takes road safety seriously, which is why we want to get boots on the ground and shovels in the dirt as soon as possible to ensure these additional works are delivered quickly for Canberrans and visitors,” he said .
“This is all about getting Canberra residents home sooner and safer.”
ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja said the timing could not be better for funding to flow for crucial road safety improvements in Canberra as the city gets back into full swing following the Christmas and New Year period.
“This vital funding is not only providing a much-needed boost to local jobs and the economy, it is delivering measures to ensure road users stay safe on our roads,” Senator Seselja said.
“I am pleased to see a total of $6 million will be shared across Canberra to fund new road safety upgrades and improvements to help reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries occurring on our roads.
“The most important thing we can do for our community is ensure we all get home safely as even one death or one serious injury crash on our roads is one too many.”
The Federal Government’s funding from the Road Safety Program is subject to ‘use it or lose it’ provisions that require states and territories to use their allocated funds within a given timeframe, or the funds can be reallocated to projects in other jurisdictions.
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