Premier Chris Minns said the upgrades were “much-needed”. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The NSW Government has pledged $60 million in upgrades to sections of the Princes Highway on the South Coast, which will include new lanes, signage and other safety measures.
Member for Bega Doctor Michael Holland said the works came after three fatal crashes in less than a fortnight.
“Each one of those individuals was someone’s partner, someone’s parent, someone’s son or daughter, and it’s a great sadness to see that,” he said.
The first phase of this program will see $10.4 million invested this year, between Sussex Inlet Road and Moruya. The work will begin in June and be completed in 500m sections to minimise disruptions to motorists.
Flexible safety barriers will be installed between Conjola Creek and Lake Conjola Entrance Road, totalling 5.4 km in length.
Widened centrelines near Conjola will better separate opposing lanes of traffic, reducing the risk of head-on crashes.
Later this year, work will begin on an additional southbound lane and concrete median on a 750m section of the highway at Batemans Bay to improve traffic efficiency and reduce congestion.
Premier Chris Minns said it was important road infrastructure could handle traffic during peak periods.
“We know that in summer, some towns can double in population,” he said.
The 110km stretch of road between Moruya and Sussex Inlet saw 276 crashes in the five years from 2019 to 2023. These upgrades are intended to reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash.
Shoulder widening and road resurfacing will be completed on the Princes Highway near Mogo and Bimbimbie.
This work is happening in conjunction with other projects on the Princes Highway, such as the Jervis Bay intersection upgrade, the Jervis Bay to Hawken Road upgrade and the Milton-Ulladulla Bypass.
Mr Minns said the NSW Government was committed to the latter project, with funding allocated over the forward estimates.
“We want to make sure we get it right and we are expecting a slight alignment change due to environmental factors,” he said.
Future upgrades are in planning for Batemans Bay, Moruya, Bodalla, Narooma, Bega, and Eden. This includes signs, coloured pavement and line marking to encourage motorists to drive at safer speeds when entering towns by reinforcing a changing speed zone.
Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison urged people to “remember their behaviour” and slow down.
“We know that the road toll, as we sit here today, is 142 people who’ve died this year, and this will go some way to stopping that number in the future,” she said.
“It’s also really important – and I always reiterate this message whenever I talk about road safety – to get people to take responsibility.”
Further information on the projects being carried out on the Princes Highway is available on Transport for NSW’s website.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
