The Rudd Labor Government together with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) have marked International Level Crossing Awareness Day by announcing boom gates have been installed at the 47th NSW level crossing to be made safer with economic stimulus money.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said it was fitting that a day established to promote safety around level crossings has coincided with the final phase in the rollout of the Rudd Labor Government’s $150 million Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program – an initiative funded in last year’s Economic Stimulus Plan.
“All up, we allocated $42.7 million to improve safety around 55 of the State’s high risk level crossings, with the one located on South Bank Road, EUNGAI the latest to receive boom gates,” said Mr Albanese.
“Never before has there been a Federal program dedicated to improving safety and preventing accidents at level crossings. As well as improving the safety of the State’s local roads, our investment created jobs and supported businesses during last year’s global recession.
“Tragically about 100 accidents occur at level crossings every year, with seven having been recorded between July 2007 and June 2008 in NSW, one of which resulted in a fatality.”
All 55 level crossing upgrades are expected to be completed by early July.
ARTC CEO David Marchant said safety at level crossings was of paramount concern.
“The completion of the roll-out of level crossing upgrades across NSW has been an important step forward in increasing safety for pedestrians, motorists and train drivers at numerous sites around rural and regional NSW,” said Mr Marchant.
“The upgrades have been necessary due to improvements in signal technology and rail infrastructure which have allowed trains to pass through various sections of the North South and East West rail links more efficiently.
“As we increase capacity and reliability on the rail corridors, so too we need to enhance safety which is what these upgrades in NSW have been designed to achieve.”
The NSW component of the Program has created 65 full time equivalent positions and injected some $5 million into the State’s regional communities. Once fully rolled out, some 300 level crossings around the country will be made safer.
Boom Gates for Rail Crossings PROGRAM – New South Wales projects
| PROJECT LOCATION | OLD SAFETY MEASURES | NEW SAFETY MEASURES |
|---|---|---|
| Woods Road, Craven | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Kenilworth Street, Denman | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Tambar Springs Road, Connemarra | Passive – Give Way Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Iona Park Road, Calwalla | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Purvis Lane, Dubbo | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Lowes Creek Road, Quipolly | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Carrick Road , Carrick | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Eastbank Road, Nana Glen | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Public Road, Denman | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Magpie – Qurindi Road, Spring Ridge | Passive – Give Way Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Coles Lane, Yarra | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Collombatti Link Road, Tamban | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Gurrundah Road, Breadalbane | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Glenyalla Road, Kankool | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Gap Road, Gap | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Dolly’s Flat Road, Killawarra | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Old South Road, Cullerin | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Public Road, Gunningbland | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Red Lane, Koolkhan | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Oolong Road , Oolong Road | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Mirari Road, Kilbride | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Menindee Yard, Menindee | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Young Road, Bribbaree | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| South Bank Road, Eungai | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Broadway Road, Jerrawa | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Mogo Road, Wollar | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Cootamundra Road and Ellis Street, Stockinbingal | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Brown’s Crossing, Macksville | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Public Road, Wollar | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Bowral Street, Bowral | Passive | Install swing gates, flashing lights and bells |
| Carrs Peninsular Road, Koolkhan | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Yarrawa Road, Moss Vale | Passive | Install swing gates, flashing lights and bells |
| Forbes Road, Yarrabandai | Passive Stop Sign | Install boom gates, flashing lights and bells |
| Tereel Road (Johnson Creek Road), Wards River | Passive Stop Sign | Install boom gates, flashing lights and bells |
| Pooncarie Road, Darnick | Passive Stop Sign | Install boom gates, flashing lights and bells |
| Public Road, Trida | Passive Stop Sign | Install boom gates, flashing lights and bells |
| Public Road, Derriwong | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Cessnock Road / Caledonia Street, Kearsley | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Jaspers Brush Road, Jaspers Brush | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Kootingal Road, Kootingal | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Railway Street, Nemingha | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| O’Keefe’s Lane, Jaspers Bush | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Evans Plains Road and Hen & Chicken Lane, Perthville | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Long Point Road, Mullion Creek | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Bootheba Road, Dubbo | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Nyngan Yard and Mitchell Highway, Nyngan | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Fitzroy Street, Narrabri | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Ploughmans Lane, Orange | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Gostwyck Road, Kelly’s Plains | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Huntly Road, Spring Hill | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Polaris Street, Temora | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Cooper Drive, Clandulla | Passive – Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Wyalong Road, Reefton | Passive Give Way Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Timbumburi Street (Duri Street), Duri | Passive Stop Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |
| Bypass Road, West Wyalong | Passive Give Way Sign | Install flashing lights and boom gates and bells |