Mackay and Bowen residents will receive major road safety boosts with the Morrison Liberal National Government announcing it will invest just shy of $1 million between two key intersections under the 2021–22 Black Spot Program.

Road crashes place major emotional and economic strains on all affected communities but particularly the families and friends of the victims.

I am pleased to see that projects like the Gregory and William streets intersection in Bowen will be delivered under the 2021–22 funding round.

$468,500 will be invested to install a single-lane roundabout, including reducing the number of lanes to one per leg on intersection approach, to make this intersection safer.

In Mackay, the Sydney and Alfred streets intersection will receive a significant upgrade thanks to funding of $503,500.

Those funds will be invested to modify the geometry of the roundabout approaches and install new pedestrian refuges with traffic island protection and new signs, making it safer for both motorists and pedestrians to navigate this busy spot.

Projects like these would not be delivered without the community’s vital input and I encourage all residents and motorists in the region to nominate projects for future funding rounds.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the State would receive $20.8 million under the Black Spot Program’s 2021–22 funding round.

“This major investment is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to building safer roads right across the nation,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“The Black Spot Program funds safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where a number of serious crashes are known to have occurred.

“That is why the Australian Government has committed $1.1 billion to the Black Spot Program from 2013-14 to 2023-24 to improve road safety across Australia.”

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the 67 Black Spot projects across Queensland would make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on Queensland roads and built on previous investments in the state.

“This Government is investing in road safety right across the nation to ensure Australians get home sooner and safer, as even one death or one serious injury crash on our roads is one too many,” Assistant Minister Buchholz said.

“This new funding will see total investment through the Black Spot Program in Queensland rise to $189.2 million, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving road safety.”

The Australian Government has committed $1.1 billion to the Black Spot Program from 2013–14 to 2023–24 to improve road safety across the nation.

For more information on the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/blackspots.