Road safety works began last month on a section of Shelford-Mt Mercer Road in Mount Mercer.
The $1.1 million upgrade of Shelford-Mt Mercer Road will see 3.5 kilometres of the road upgraded, with the road shoulder widened and sealed between Grahams Road and Rices Road. The project will also include the installation of guard fencing on the east side of the road, improved delineation, and replacement of damaged signs.
Golden Plains Shire Council received $1.1 million to complete the road safety works from the Australian Government’s 2020-21 Black Spot Program. The project is anticipated to be completed by June 2021.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby said Council was pleased to be getting on with delivering a safer Shelford-Mt Mercer Road for the community.
“It’s a busy time for Council in the infrastructure space, and I’m excited that works are underway on the road safety upgrade of Shelford-Mt Mercer Road. The road has sadly been the site of accidents in the past several years, and I know locals and those who frequently drive this road will welcome this upgrade to improve safety for all its users.
“Road maintenance and management is one of the top priorities of Golden Plains Shire, and this year we are delivering further road upgrades in Meredith and Russells Bridge, intersection upgrades in Garibaldi and Berringa and numerous guardrail replacements throughout the Shire, alongside our annual sealed and gravel road maintenance programs.”
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan MP announced funding for this notorious black spot in August 2020 under the Black Spot Program.
Mr Tehan said he was “pleased that Golden Plains Shire Council had acted expediently to remediate the black spot and provide a safer road for the community”.
“The Black Spot program is incredibly important and targets roads like the Shelford-Mt Mercer Road, helping to save lives and reduce road trauma, ensuring Wannon's roads are made safer and more productive for all road users.”
This year, Council has several other road upgrades in the works, including the stage one and two widening of Meredith-Shelford Road in Meredith, Russells Bridge Road in Russells Bridge, and intersection upgrades at Garibaldi’s Buninyong-Mt Mercer Road/Hardies Hill Road intersection and Berringa’s Derwent Jacks Road/Snow Gum Road/Reef Road/Chromes Road intersection.