More than $2 million will be invested into Cowra roads as part of the NSW Government's record $70 million spend on 172 vital safety upgrades to the state's road network.
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Retiring member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey announced the funding during a visit to Young on Wednesday.
Motorists travelling Cowra’s Lachlan Valley Way will benefit from the announcement with $850,000 allocated to install protected right turn lane, widen and seal the shoulder and remove clear zone hazards along the road.
From Lyndhurst to Cowra, on the Mid-Western Highway $1.26 million will be spent on profile edge lines and centrelines, on raised reflective pavement markers, curve alignment markers, to remove roadside obstacles like trees and install w-beam guardrails.
Ms Pavey, alongside the Member for Cootamundra Ms Hodgkinson, announced the record investment as part of the State Government's Safer Roads Program, which will carry out road safety infrastructure upgrade projects over the next three years throughout the state.
"Last year 254 people lost their lives in the country. That's two-thirds of our total road toll for 2016, which is scary when regional NSW is one-third of the population," Mrs Pavey said.
"Most of these drivers were locals and many of them died close to home. There are also literally thousands of people being seriously injured on our roads each year."
Ms Hodgkinson said the $5.7 million (allocated to the Cootamundra electorate) would provide upgrades and safety improvements to roads throughout the Cootamundra electorate.
"This important road safety program is funded through the Community Road Safety fund where all speed camera revenue is sent," she said.
"Last year these roads that have been identified under this program have had a total of 41 crashes, including three deaths - that's our families, neighbours and friends.
"This year's investment to the road network is estimated to save the equivalent of 419 deaths and serious injuries.”
More money than ever will be spent upgrading regional roads with nearly 77 per cent of total funding, going into 118 safety upgrade projects in regional NSW.
Funding has also been allocated to:
* $280,000 to install wire rope safety barriers outside of curve, install curve alignment markers, install speed advisory signs, relocate an existing rest area sign and prevent obstruction along the Newell Highway south of West Wyalong.
* $50,000 to install CAMs and curve warning signs on the Olympic Highway north of Cootamundra, Wombat.
* $725,000 to seal the shoulder and install a roadside wire rope barrier on the Olympic Highway near Wagga.
