Andrew Southcott (Boothby, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was very pleased to be up at the Flagstaff Hill roundabout recently with Minister Jamie Briggs to announce Black Spot funding, which will make important safety upgrades to roads in my electorate. Flagstaff Road and Happy Valley Drive are major commuting roads for residents of Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill and surrounding suburbs. Unfortunately, this road—which runs through the foothills—currently has no road lighting whatsoever on a 2.5 kilometres section between Black Road and Manning Road.

I was very happy to be there with Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg and Counsellor Darryl Parslow to announce $786,000 of funding to install new road lighting on that stretch of road, which will decrease the chance of crashes and at night time. Locals also know that the railway crossing on Grange Road at Hawthorn is often quite dangerous. Vehicles queue over the crossing and, on at least one occasion, an articulated bus has been caught under the boom gate. That crossing will now be upgraded with a vehicle escape lane, capable of accommodating 19-metre articulated buses. The traffic signals at the Grange Road, Belair Road and Newark Road intersection will also be improved. Finally, the corner of Hawthorndene Drive and Watahuna Avenue is dangerous in wet weather, with vehicles losing control. New funding will see the installation of non-skid pavement, advanced warning signs and delineation at that intersection.

I thank the Onkaparinga and Mitcham councils for their applications and am pleased that we were able to work with them for this outcome. (Time expired)