Canberra Votes: Coalition announces $3.1M funding for Canberra black spots

ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce have announced $3.1 M funding for four horror intersections. READ THE STORY to find out where the cash will go.

The Coalition has announced $3.1 million in funding to upgrade four of ACT’s horror intersections as part of the federal government’s Black Spot Program.

ACT Senator Zed Seselja announced the investment on Tuesday alongside Liberal MLA Mark Parton outside one of the targeted intersections at Weston Creek.

Mr Seselja said the announced investment was “all about making Canberrans safer”.

“We are reducing the likelihood of serious injuries and crashes that cause injuries or indeed fatalities,” Mr Seselja said.

The four intersections to be upgraded through the funding are Hindmarsh Dr and Brierly St, Weston; Isabella Dr and Benham St, Chisholm; Phillip Ave and Windeyer St, Downer; and the intersection of Limestone Ave, Treloar Cres, and Euree At, Campbell.

Liberal MLA Mark Parton and ACT Senator Zed Seselja announce funding to upgrade four of the ACT’s horror intersections. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

In a statement Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the coalition government was committed to reducing road deaths and “sparing families from the immeasurable impact these tragedies have”.

“Funding under the Black Spot Program will deliver much-needed safety upgrades to some of the most dangerous sections of our roads, making them safer and keeping commuters and freight moving,” Mr Joyce said.

“The Government is investing more than $25 billion in road safety projects over the next four years.”

Assistant Minister Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the federal government had invested a total of $14.5 million to the ACT through the Black Spot Program.

A statement from the office of ACT Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel said the design phase of the projects was expected to get underway in May 2022.

“We are unable to commit to timeframes for construction as these will be developed during the design phase,” the statement said.

“The four intersections were put forward by the ACT Government based on a range of criteria, including economic benefit of proposed improvements and proven history of casualty crashes.”

According to data provided by the ACT Government all four intersections have been the site of fatal crashes.

The intersection of Euree St, Limestone Ave and Treloar Cres has had 25 collisions in five years, including seven casualty collisions. Hindmarsh Dr and Brierly St in Weston has faced 21 collisions including seven casualty collisions in five years.

Benham St and Isabella Dr in Chisholm also had a total of 21 collisions including seven casualty collisions over the last five years.

The intersection of Phillip Ave and Windeyer St Downer has had 13 collisions including five casualty collisions in the past five years.