Casey to share in road funds

THE City of Casey will share in a $164,000 Federal Government grant for vital black spot road safety improvements.
Works include the installation of a painted protected right-hand turning lane at the intersection of Pound Road and Kilberry Boulevard in Hampton Park.
Senator Mitch Fifield announced the funding last week as part of the $44.5 million AusLink Black Spot Program.
Mr Fifield praised the cooperation of Federal and State Government, council and local communities to reduce the national road toll.
“It is clear that more needs to be done by all Australians to reduce fatalities on our roads,” he said.
“The community consultation process used to review these safety proposals is an important step.
“Widespread consultation helps ensure local concerns are addressed.”
Mr Fifield said the Black Spot Program, now in its 11th year, ensured work was carried out at some of the high casualty areas across the country.
He said the Federal Government had extended the program for a further two years from 2006-07 to 2007-08 at a cost of $90 million.
The news comes as Casey councillors recently voted to write to VicRoads acknowledging the black spot funding allocated to the city over the years.
Councillor Rob Wilson said he was appreciative of the millions of dollars poured into some of Casey’s most notorious roads, including Pearcedale Road, Baxter-Tooradin Road and Churchill Park Drive.
“An enormous amount of black spot traffic and road problems have been solved because of these projects,” he said.