May 25, 2009
The dangerous intersection at the corner of the Princes Highway and Post Office Place in Traralgon will be upgraded following an announcement of $450,000 from the Federal Government.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the Federal Government was spending $1.2 million to upgrade dangerous blackspots in the Latrobe Valley.
Mr Chester said funding had been announced to construct a left turn lane and larger left turn island at the intersection of Princes Highway and Post Office Place, Traralgon.
Street lighting and pedestrian access would also be improved and right turns out of Post Office Place onto the highway would be banned.
Mr Chester said locals were all too aware of the dangerous intersection and did their best to avoid that corner.
“These upgrades will help to make the intersection safer and improve traffic flow along the highway and through the Central Business District,” Mr Chester.
The funding is being provided through the Black Spots Program although details on the starting date have not yet been announced by the government.
Mr Chester said the Federal Government would also upgrade dangerous blackspots in Morwell.
• $340,000 has been announced for asphalt surfacing, street lighting, upgrading traffic signal lanterns and installing a full controlled right-turn at the intersection of Morwell-Traralgon Road and Vincent Road, Morwell
• $250,000 has been announced for asphalt surfacing , a fully controlled right-turn, upgrading of signal lanterns and splitter island and relocation of pedestrian cross walk at Morwell Traralgon Road and Church Street at Morwell.
• $130,000 to seal shoulders and install painted edgelines and reflectorised guideposts on Old Melbourne Road between Morwell Yallourn North road and Morwell-Maryvale Road at Morwell.
Mr Chester said a further $260,000 had also been allocated to remove the crest on Weir Road, Heyfield, and install intersection chevrons and seal shoulders at the Angle Channel Road and Weir Road in Heyfield.
Mr Chester said he would continue to work with State and Federal Government Ministers to secure more funding to improve the safety of local roads.
“Various reports have found that improving the safety of the road environment is critical to reducing the road toll,” Mr Chester said.
“Fixing country roads, saves country lives.
“I will continue to fight for our fair share of Government funding to improve the Gippsland road network.”