NT Black Spot Consultative Panel identifies 16 Territory locations for upgrades

As road fatality numbers soar, the federal government has committed $4 million to improving more than a dozen locations identified as the most urgent for road upgrades. See the list.

In tackling the Territory’s horrid road fatality numbers, 16 locations have been identified that need urgent upgrades.

As the Northern Territory faces its worst road fatality year in more than a decade, Chief Minister Eva Lawler has confirmed $4 million of federal funding has been secured to patch up more than a dozen locations across the territory in need of crucial upgrades.

This month, the NT Black Spot Consultative Panel identified 16 priority locations as being particularly dangerous.

Assistant Minister for Transport Carol Brown says the Albanese government will be working closely with Territory government. Picture: Peter Mathew

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said the federal government would continue to engage the Territory government to bring the shocking fatality numbers down.

“The Australian Government is committed to reducing the crushing impact of road trauma, and we will continue to work closely with the Northern Territory Government to address these dangerous sites on roads across the Territory,” she said.

Of note, despite multiple deaths across Red Centre roads in 2024, there were no projects identified in Central Australia.

The 16 locations identified for upgrades. Source: NT Government.

The Black Spot Program, aimed to target high-risk road locations across the country, is currently funded $110 million per year but is expected to progressively increase to $150 million per year.

The targeted effort to reduce road risk follows the Federal government’s Roads to Recovery funding boost, which rose to $650 million in 2024, up from $500 million in 2023.

Luke John Anthony Gosling, OAM at the SOD turning ceremony for the new Larrakia development centre in Stokes Hill Wharf. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Solomon MP Luke Gosling, who also serves as Chair of the NT Black Spot Consultative Panel, encouraged road users to nominate dangerous locations for future funding.

“Each of us have a responsibility to make safe choices when navigating our roads, but we are also making sure that we are investing in safety improvements that can reduce the risk to road users,” he said.

“I know there is still work to be done, and I encourage anyone who knows of a Black Spot near them to consider nominating it for consideration by our local panel.”

Two people were killed on Friday, bringing the Territory’s road death toll to 34.

Another two people died in a major crash on a Northern Territory road on Friday, bringing the Territory’s road fatality toll to 34 lives lost.

The crash involved a sedan carrying five people which crashed on Tanami Rd, about 20km from the Stuart Hwy intersection about 2.50pm Friday.

NT Police, NT Fire and Rescue Service and St John Ambulance attended the scene where a man and woman were declared dead.

Emergency services took the remaining three passengers to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment.

Police declared a crime scene and confirmed the Major Crash Investigation Unit would prepare a report for the coroner.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler says her government has committed to a “zero deaths” vision. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The latest Black Spot Funding boost was welcomed by Ms Lawler, who said the government had committed to a “long-term vision of zero deaths”.

“The Lawler Labor Government has secured more than $4 million to facilitate road safety upgrades at 16 locations across the Territory,” she said

“These projects to be delivered at black spot sites across the Top End will make an important difference in reducing serious injuries and deaths on Territory roads.”

PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE

MANINGRIDA

Maningrida Sweeney Road and Maningrida Malabam Road: Realign road, increase road width and install speed humps and new signs.

ADELAIDE RIVER

Haynes Road Wild and Horse Flats Road:Clear vegetation, re-level and grade road surface and install guideposts and signage

LUDMILLA

Dick Ward Drive and Fitzer Drive: Install pedestrian islands south of Fitzer Drive

KAKADU

Kakadu Highway: Extend culverts to approx. four metres from edgelines (multiple sites)

GUNN

Buscall Avenue and Lakeview Boulevard: Reduce the lane width on Buscall Avenue from 5.4 metres to 3.5 metres with the installation of a landscaped median island

DURACK

Packard Avenue and Haultain Crescent: Reconstruct the verges to narrow the road on both the eastern and western legs of the intersection. Increase the size of centre island within the roundabout.

EVA VALLEY

Solomon Road and Nick’s Crossing: Widen approaching road surface twenty metres either side of bridge, clear vegetation and install linemarking, new signage, and guideposts.

WANGURI

Trower Road and Henbury Avenue: Construction of traffic island and associated signs, line marking, and street lighting.

Trower Road and Angelo Street: Construction of traffic island and associated signs, line marking, and street lighting.

DARWIN

Smith Street and Harriet Place: Construction of kerb-side traffic islands on Smith Street approaches, installation of a right turn lane from Smith Street, and associated signs, line marking, and street lighting.

MOULDEN

Bonson Terrace between Melastoma Drive and Tilston Avenue: Install turning lanes, median island, kerb build-outs, mountable concrete turning paths, additional line marking, and signage.

YARRAWONGA

Yarrawonga Road and Toupein Road: Install mountable concrete kerbing, raised splitter islands, kerb buildouts, and additional signage.

GIRRAWEEN

Girraween Road between Rogers Road and Mango Road: Shoulder widening, install roadside barriers, update pavement delineation, and install retro reflective pavement markers.

WAGAIT BEACH

Wagait Beach Area Treatment: Install line marking, retro reflective pavement markers, and solar lighting at seven intersections in Wagait Beach.

BATCHELOR

Solomon Road and Miles Road: Clear vegetation, install left turn lane and passing lane on Miles Road. Extend seal to incorporate two turning lanes. Install signs and linemarking.

BELLAMACK

Chung Wah Terrace and Temple Terrace: Widen carriageway. Install wide painted median on Chung Wah Terrace. Extend

left turn lane into Forrest Parade.

Originally published as NT Black Spot Consultative Panel identifies 16 Territory locations for upgrades