Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has taken the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development for a drive along the Hyland Highway as he works to secure more money to upgrade the road.
Mr Chester drove Minister Michael McCormack, who was also acting Prime Minister, along the highway from Gormandale to the intersection with the South Gippsland Highway, near Yarram.
“The community has made it clear that they see the section of the Hyland Highway between the Carrajung-Woodside Road intersection and Bodman’s Creek as a road safety priority, and particularly the intersection of the Hyland highway with Carrajung Lower Road and Blackwarry Road,” Mr Chester said.
“I’ve taken the opportunity to show Minister McCormack this section of road and make him aware of the community’s concern and request for improvements.
“I’ve also written directly to the Black Spot Consultative Panel which allocates Federal funding for dangerous road black spots and have encouraged Regional Roads Victoria to lodge a formal Black Spot nomination to improve this dangerous stretch.
“I’m doing everything I can to make sure the decision-makers know this section of the Hyland Highway is a community priority, being led by Yarram Police, and has strong support from a cross-section of users.”
The Black Spot Program requires formal nominations from state and territory governments, councils, or community groups able to provide crash history and a road safety audit.
The Federal Government has committed an additional $50 million per year from 2019-20 to the Black Spot Program and will provide $1 billion to the Black Spot Program over 10 years.
Successful Black Spot projects target road locations where crashes were occurring. By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the program reduces the risk of crashes.
