Orange scores funding for accident 'black spots'

Road safety in Orange has been boosted by the latest new round of funding announced under the Black Spot program which includes funding for 11 local accidents blacks spots.

Federal Member for Calare, John Cobb announced that Orange was awarded funding worth $1.9 million of the $5.2 million allocated to Calare.

“This investment is helping to make our local roads safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians," John Cobb said.

“I’m sure residents across Calare will recognise the history and notoriety of each of these locations and welcome the news these dangerous areas will be addressed."

City of Orange Traffic Committee chair Cr Russell Turner has welcomed the funding announcement, the most 'Black Spot' funding has received in recent years.

"The Federal Government has recognised the accident record of these local roads and intersections, that and we thank for the funding that they are providing to to make a lot of intersections and out internal roads just that little bit safer," Cr Russell Turner said.

ROUNDABOUT : Member for Calare John Cobb and City of Orange Traffic C'tee chair Cr Russell Turner discuss the new roundabout to be built at the corner of Lords Place and March St.

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics, there were 1,242 road deaths in Australia in the 12 months to February 2016.

At each of the 11 Orange locations to be funded for an upgrade, there were multiple accidents over the last five years where people were injured.

The approved projects in Orange include:

• $322,000: 1.8km section of Pinnacle Road from Shiralee Road southwards to improve the camber of the road, upgrade the seal to a high level non-skid surface, install curve alignment markers, install shoulder and mark road edge lines.
• $310,000: 1.8km section of Forest Road south of Cadia Road to install wire rope barrier on roadside, upgrade seal to high level non-skid surface and replace w-beam barrier with wire rope barrier.
• $300,000: Intersection of March Street and Lords Place to install a single lane roundabout.
• $250,000: Intersection of Woodward Street and Moulder Street to install a 2-lane roundabout
• $200,000: Intersection of Wentworth Lane and Kenna Street to change cross intersection into staggered T-junctions
• $120,000: Intersection of March Street and Sale Street to remove sight distance restrictions at intersection, move stop or give-way lines forward using kerb extensions and install raised islands with additional stop or give-way signs.
• $110,000: Intersection of Moulder Street and Sale Street to move stop or give-way lines forward using kerb extensions and install raised islands with additional stop or give-way signs.
• $110,000: Intersection of Prince Street and Clinton Street to move stop or give-way lines forward using kerb extensions and install raised islands with additional stop or give-way signs.
• $80,000: Intersection of Sale Street and Warrendine Street to move stop or give-way lines forward using kerb extensions.
• $80,000: Intersection of Dalton Street and Spring Street at Orange to move stop or give-way lines forward using kerb extensions.
• $40,000: Intersection of Coronation Drive and Frost Street at Calare to move stop or give-way lines forward using kerb extensions.

Design work is under way on the new projects, and work is expected to begin in the new financial year.