The second stage of a $1 million safety upgrade on the Princes Highway near the Bendalong turn-off has been completed.
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The upgrade was ordered in the wake of the collision that took the lives of five people on Boxing Day 2017.
“In the five years to December 2016, there were two crashes recorded on this stretch of the Princes Highway which resulted in four people being injured. The fatal Falkholt crash, which resulted in five lives lost, also took place at the site in late 2017,” South Coast MP Shelley Hancock said.
“Every crash rocks not only those involved and their family and friends, but the local community and local emergency services as well.
“Nobody wants to see one more life claimed by the Princes Highway or what was previously the dangerous section near Bendalong.”
Wire rope barrier and audio tactile marking were installed as part of stage one in time for Easter holiday traffic. The second stage of work involved widening the southbound road shoulder from the end of the overtaking lane to the Bendalong Road turn-off, and extending the southbound overtaking lane length on the northern end.
Minor changes were made to the northbound road shoulder to improve safety and audio tactile line markings were continued north to the Jerrawangala road curves.
Guardrail was also altered along the northbound lane as part of this package of work to improve safety whilst merging.
Final minor drainage work was completed last week, allowing the speed limit to be returned to 100km/h.
“Thousands of people travel on the Princes Highway each day, including locals, tourists and freight operators, and I thank them for their patience and support while words were underway,” Mrs Hancock said.
“I also thank RMS for carrying out these vital safety improvements as quickly as possible.”
The NSW Government’s has committed a further $10 million to install additional, immediate safety measures on the Princes Highway south of Nowra.