Work will begin this month on a number of important measures designed to improve safety and prevent accidents along the Mitchell Freeway between Hutton Street and the Reid Highway.

As part of the Gillard Labor Government’s Black Spot Program, we’ve allocated $2 million to install safety barriers a various location along both sides of the Highway as well as upgrade street lighting and remove vegetation.

In the last few years ‘run-off road’ crashes at high speeds have claimed a number of lives along this road, and the measures we are funding should help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

All the safety improvements are expected to be completed by the end of February.

In the meantime, motorists are urged slow down and observe the speed restrictions which will be in place for the safety of the workers carrying out the improvements.

Nationally, we’ve doubled the Black Spot Program to half a billion dollars. Indeed the Gillard Labor Government is making an unprecedented investment in safer local roads. We understand that car accidents take a huge toll on families, local communities and the economy.

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