Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP has welcomed the commencement of works on a key road safety initiative of the Coalition and State Liberal Government.
The two overtaking lanes south of Naracoorte on the Riddoch Highway were funded by the Coalition Government through the $155 million South Australian Rural Roads Safety Package in the 2019-20 Federal Budget.
Mr Pasin said he was pleased that works were now beginning on this important project.
“The Riddoch Highway overtaking lanes were a key project that I advocated for within Government to help make our local road network safer,” Mr Pasin said.
“After securing 80 per cent of the funding from the Federal Government in an agreement with the State Liberal Government at the time, I’m pleased to see the South Australian Government are finally getting on with the job of delivering the overtaking lanes that will improve safety and productivity for all road users,” Mr Pasin said.
The Rural Road Safety Package was part of a larger funding commitment of $259.8 million in the 2019-20 Federal Budget to South Australian rural roads, which was designed to address issues such as lack of overtaking opportunities, poor shoulder sealing and pavement condition and dangerous intersections.
In November of 2019, the Federal Government brought forward $80 million of the funding to ensure the significant benefits to communities and freight operators were delivered as soon as possible.
The project will see a northbound overtaking lane north of Wrattonbully Road, at Joanna, and a southbound overtaking lane south of Edenhope Road, Coonawarra delivered.
Works are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023, weather permitting.
The project is jointly funded by the South Australian and Australian governments on an 80:20 basis as part of the $155 million South Australian Rural Roads Safety Package.
“These overtaking lanes are an example of the Coalition Government’s $120 billion infrastructure pipeline rolling out across the country to get people home safer, and our high-quality products onto shelves or off to international markets more efficiently,” Mr Pasin said.
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