May 18, 2016
Safety on a busy thoroughfare in Bairnsdale has been boosted following the completion of a five-month road upgrade project.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said Pound Swamp Hill had undergone a $200,000 upgrade following a series of accidents.
“This road is a popular route from West Bairnsdale to Wy Yung and Eastwood: it’s used daily by many vehicles, including school buses. Unfortunately, it’s been the location of a number of accidents,” Mr Chester said.
“East Gippsland Shire Council has used money from the Federal Government’s Roads to Recovery Program to rebuild the intersection at McKean Street and Williams Parade to prevent vehicles from slipping off the road in wet conditions.
“There were a number of safety concerns with the road, including the uneven road surface caused by cracking and the highly polished road surface.
“The length of the road has now been resurfaced with asphalt, drainage has been upgraded and safety barriers installed. This will improve safety for everyone who uses Pound Swamp Hill to get to work, school and home.”
East Gippsland Shire Chief Executive Officer Gary Gaffney said the work at Pound Swamp Hill was one of two important projects managed by the Shire and funded through the Roads to Recovery Program.
“A number of crashes along Pound Swamp Hill led to an investigation by council officers to determine the cause and seek to address the identified issues,” Mr Gaffney said.
“The resulting safety improvements ensure that in the unlikely event of a future accident, the severity would be minimised.
“Works are also nearing completion in Mitchell Street, Bairnsdale, transforming the poor condition of this street into a modern urban thoroughfare. Managed by the Shire, this project will cost $850,000 and will be fully funded by Roads to Recovery.
“The Shire has also identified significant improvements for McMillan Street, which services one of Bairnsdale’s key industrial areas. Detailed design of this project is currently underway and will include upgrading of intersections to accommodate heavy vehicles, formalise drainage networks and major pavement reconstruction,” he said.
Mr Chester said the condition of roads in his electorate was one of the most important issues for many people living in Gippsland.
“When I speak to people in our region, road safety and the condition of our roads is the topic that is most often raised. It’s an issue that affects all of us: whether we are going to the shops or school, heading home or relying on heavy vehicles to transport goods.
“Poor road conditions have an economic and a social cost. This is why the Roads to Recovery Program, which funds the construction and maintenance of roads infrastructure, is so important to our region.”
The Federal Government will provide $3.2 billion under the Roads to Recovery Program from 2014-15 to 2018-19. The total allocation for East Gippsland Shire Council for that period is $20,204,911, including almost $5.1 million in the coming financial year.
Caption:
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester pictured with East Gippsland Shire CEO Gary Gaffney and Director Operations Chris Waites at Pound Swamp Hill, which has received $200,000 from the Federal Government for road safety upgrades.
