More than 1000km of Mid West, Gascoyne roads upgraded through State Government program

More than 1000km of roads in the Mid West and Gascoyne have been upgraded so far as part of the State Government’s Regional Road Safety Program. The initiative, which has been rolled out across WA since 2020, has had more than $1 billion invested into improving road safety. In the Mid West and Gascoyne, $110 million has been put towards 1050km of upgrades. The program aims to prevent single vehicle run off road crashes, which according to the State Government are one of the leading causes of deaths on regional roads. In the Mid West, the numbers suggest fatal deaths on roads have reduced slightly, falling from 78 in 2020 to 57 last year. Despite this, tragically at least 13 people have died on Mid West roads this year, with the latest being a rollover on Geraldton-Mt Magnet Road near Yalgoo which claimed the lives of 21-year-old Gabrielle Brockman, her aunty Marrika and Marrika’s five-week-old son Levi last month. Upgrades as part of the safety program have included widening and sealing shoulders, as well as installing audible edge lines. Studies from Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre found rumble strips and sealing shoulders were effective for road safety, with a 58 per cent reduction in crash rates, and casualties due to crashes fell by 79 per cent. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the program was the biggest road safety program ever delivered in the State. “The Mid West Gascoyne region alone has had well over 1000km of road network upgraded with critical safety treatments like widened and sealed shoulders, and audible edge lines,” she said. “We know single vehicle run off road crashes are one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on our roads, and these types of upgrades provide an additional safety net and warning to drivers if they start to drift off the road. “The changes we are making are delivering a safer road network for communities across the Mid West Gascoyne.” Completed upgrades include 343km of North West Coastal Highway, 256km of Great Northern Highway, 137km of Brand Highway and 98km of Indian Ocean Drive. Meanwhile, three projects are set to be completed by the end of the year, including Great Northern Highway between Meekatharra and Karalundi, Midlands Road between Mingenew-Morawa Road and Brand Highway and Brand Highway between Indian Ocean Drive and Midlands Road. Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said safety was front of mind for the State Government. “When you live in Geraldton, you will often be driving on major State roads like the North West Coastal Highway, Brand Highway and Indian Ocean Drive, and making those roads safer is an absolute priority for our Government,” she said. “We need to continue investing into our road network to make sure it remains as safe and efficient as possible, and I will continue to advocate for further funding on behalf of our community.” Upgrades to Great Northern Highway between Mt Magnet and Cue, and between Cue and Tuckanarra, are set to begin early next year. The WA Nationals have supported calls for improved road safety in the Mid West with a petition penned last month calling for the State Government to address the safety concerns on the roads. The Opposition has also supported a rescue chopper based in the Mid West, with the party committing to one as an election promise. Long-time advocate for a Mid West-based rescue helicopter Ian Dempsey said the changes were important, but accidents could still occur. “It’s not going to make any difference for an ambulance getting out there when compared to a helicopter,” he said. Meanwhile, the Royal Flying Doctor Service recently engaged with the Geraldton community about creating a locally-based service. All options were on the table according to the organisation, including a helicopter to help people in urgent situations. After State Government funding, the RFDS estimated it would need to raise $10m to create a locally-based facility.