The level crossing on Mitchell Street (Mitchell Highway) in Nyngan is set to become safer, with work now underway on replacing the existing stop signs with boom gates, lights and bells.

This $1.4 million safety project is being funded as part of the Rudd Labor Government's Economic Stimulus Plan and delivered by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

All up, we allocated $42.7 million in stimulus money to upgrade safety around 55 high risk level crossings in NSW, with work already completed at 32 of these locations.

Tragically, about 100 accidents occur at rail crossings every year. Between July 2007 and June 2008, there were seven level crossing collisions in NSW, with one resulting in a fatality.

Never before has there been a Federal program dedicated to preventing accidents at level crossings. This investment has not only improved the safety of our nation's road and rail networks, it supported local jobs and businesses during the worst global recession in some 75 years.

Nationally, we are investing $150 million to install boom gates and other safety measures at 292 level crossings by the end of June