The Western Australian government has announced an additional $178 million for road infrastructure projects in regional WA.
Among the funding includes $34 million being put towards safety upgrades for regional level crossings. The federal government’s regional level crossing safety program will fund $17 million for this initiative.
“The new investments will deliver important upgrades to level crossings in regional WA, with an additional $34 million being allocated to improve safety,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“The additional $34 million investment will take our overall investment in regional level crossing safety upgrades to $54 million over the next four years, which will allow us to expand this important work.”
An additional $132 million funding will also be provided for four road projects that had federal funding removed following the recent review of the nation’s infrastructure pipeline.
The projects include $48 million each for the Moorine Road to Mt Holland Road and the Marble Bar Road upgrades, $29.6 million towards planning the Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation project and $6.4 million for the Great Southern Secondary Freight project.
The WA government says the funding will unlock key resource projects that will drive jobs and economic growth, provide residents easier access to drivers’ licences and increase financial support to get kids to and from school.
“We know access to affordable and reliable travel options is essential to regional and remote communities, which is why we continue to invest in measures that have a meaningful impact,” Saffioti says.