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RAA road safety experts are shining the spotlight on more than a thousand kilometres of rural roads as part of our ongoing commitment to road safety tourism, freight, regional communities and all other road users.
This time the team inspected the road network around Broken Hill – home to 6000 RAA members – for the first time.
RAA Senior Traffic Engineer Matt Vertudaches said he and fellow traffic engineer Paul Leone also inspected the length of the Barrier Highway from just north of Tarlee all the way to the Silver City in New South Wales.
“Last week we reviewed 21 roads and intersections around Broken Hill based on feedback from the Broken Hill community we received in a pre-inspection survey,’’ Matt said.
“Some of these included Silverton Road, Williams St, Iodide St and Crystal St.’’
The survey was sent to eligible RAA members in Broken Hill and communities alongside the Barrier Highway, and a total of 477 responses were received highlighting concerns with the highway and surrounding road network.
“As part of our inspection – which will be a key part of our Broken Hill and Barrier Highway Regional Road Assessment – we met with local emergency service personnel along the Barrier Highway at Yunta, and Broken Hill City Council and Regional Development Australia in Broken Hill.”
“The ongoing $62.5m investment between Burra and Cockburn has delivered some high quality sections of the highway which will undoubtedly improve safety, with works set to continue until mid-2023.
“However, some of the outstanding issues include narrow bridges, undulating and deteriorating road surface south of Burra, especially Saddleworth to Manoora, and the quality and type of facilities at roadside rest areas.’’
Matt mentioned the region had received significant rainfall and the verges were much greener for this time of year, while wildlife – including Kangaroos, Emu’s, wild goats and lizards catching some rays on the road between showers – was abundant.
He said our latest regional road assessment report would be due early next year.
For more on RAA’s road safety initiatives visit raa.com.au/roadsafety.