May 25, 2009
The dangerous McKean Street intersections with Victoria and Dreverman streets in Bairnsdale will be upgraded following an announcement of $500,000 from the Federal Government.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the Federal Government was spending a total of $920,000 to upgrade dangerous black spots in East Gippsland.
Mr Chester said funding had been announced to construct roundabouts at the two intersections which were currently serviced by stop signs along McKean Street.
Mr Chester said locals were all too aware of the dangerous intersections which remained consistently busy due to their proximity to the Bairnsdale Secondary College, Bairnsdale Hospital and Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
“These upgrades will help to make both intersections safer for the local community and will improve traffic flow in the vicinity of the hospital, secondary college, swimming pool and recreation centre,” 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 other dangerous black spots across East Gippsland.
• $90,000 to install guideposts and intersection warning signs and improve skid resistance on Swifts Creek East Road from McMillans Street to south of Negoura Road at Swifts Creek.
• $180,000 to install guideposts, advanced warning signs, pavement markers and guard fence on a 2.1km section of Tambo Upper Road at Tambo Upper.
Mr Chester said $151,000 had been announced to install splitter islands, right and left turn lanes, a pedestrian crossing and line marking along Howitt Avenue and Wy Yung Road in Bairnsdale.
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.
Mr Chester has been continually lobbying the Federal Government to grant the Princes Highway east of Sale to the NSW border with Auslink status to enable federal funding.
“I will continue to fight for our fair share of Government funding to improve the Gippsland road network.
“Fixing country roads, saves country lives.”