Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese today joined local Labor Member for Charlton Greg Combet and NSW Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper to officially open a new $4 million roundabout at the intersection of Dorrington and Wangi Roads in Rathmines.

The Gillard Labor Government provided $750,000 towards the project from its Black Spot Program, with a further $3.25 million from the NSW Government.

Over $5.4 million has been allocated by the Federal Labor Government to fix 14 black spots across the Charlton electorate in the past two and a half years.

“The Labor Government is investing in the Hunter economy, including through our Economic Stimulus Plan which saw Australia through the global recession and created jobs,” Anthony Albanese said.

“Over the last three years Federal Labor has fixed 148 dangerous black spots on local roads across NSW, including fourteen here in the electorate of Charlton.

“That’s an unprecedented investment in safer local roads.

“Nationally, we’ve doubled the Black Spot Program to half a billion dollars, with a significant proportion of this coming from our Economic Stimulus Plan – the very initiative Tony Abbott and the Liberal-National Coalition, including the Member for Paterson, voted against.

“If Tony Abbott had got his way, many more car accidents would be occurring each and every day in NSW.”

An independent evaluation of the Black Spot Program found it prevented at least 32 fatalities and more than 1,500 serious injuries in its first three years.

“The Federal Government is committed to making our local roads safer. Accidents take a huge toll on our families, our communities and the local economy, that’s why road safety will remain a high priority for the Gillard Labor Government.”

Following a community consultation process, a panel of independent road safety experts concluded a roundabout would improve safety at the intersection, while retaining all existing traffic movements. A slip lane for northbound motorists on Wangi Road also allows for northbound traffic to be separated from vehicles on the roundabout.

The RTA previously reduced the speed limit in the area to 80 kilometres per hour. The roundabout also slows traffic at the intersection, improving safety to the north and south of the intersection.

Inspecting the roundabout on site today, Mr Combet thanked local residents for their input during the consultation process and also their patience during the construction period.

“I delivered on my commitment to work hard to secure funding for this project and improve safety on local roads,” Member for Charlton Greg Combet said.

“I would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts of the Rathmines Progress Association led by Mr Bob Thorburn, in rallying support behind this project and for encouraging community input.

“This new roundabout improves safety for all motorists, particularly for those turning right out of Dorrington Road.

“I am also extremely pleased to see how safety has been enhanced for cyclists, with a refuge bay incorporated into the site for those coming out of Dorrington Road.”