The Princes Highway south of Jervis Bay Road, the "mad mile" south of Batemans Bay and the Moruya by-pass would be part of a $150 million Princes Highway investment if Labor wins the May 18 Federal Election, the party says.
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The federal government announced $500 million for the highway in the April Budget, with $100 million of that in the forward estimates.
Speaking in Moruya on Friday, April 5, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten promised to match that figure, but also consider bringing some investment forward.
"A Shorten Labor Government will accelerate safety upgrades to the Princes Highway south of Nowra by bringing forward $100 million in federal funding," a joint statement from Shadow Infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese, Gilmore candidate Fiona Phillips and Eden-Monaro MP Mike Kelly said on Monday, April 22.
"All up, a Shorten Labor Government will invest $150 million over the next four years."
Labor said its total commitment to the highway will be $500 million and it would work with the NSW Government to speed up projects between Jervis Bay Road and Moruya, including bypasses at Moruya and Milton-Ulladulla.
The party said the projects included:
- Upgrading the intersection between Jervis Bay Road and the Princes Highway.
- Straightening and upgrading the 4km section of the Princes Highway just south of Batemans Bay, known as the "mad mile".
- Duplicating sections between Jervis Bay Road and Sussex Inlet Road.
- Constructing the Moruya Bypass.
- Detailed planning work for the Milton and Ulladulla Bypass and upgrades to the Highway from Burrill Lake to Batemans Bay.
In the lead-up to the NSW Election, the NSW promised $960 million to upgrade the highway south of Nowra, but called on both federal parties to contribute.
"Projects like these will create hundreds of construction jobs on the South Coast and boost productivity by reducing traffic congestion affecting local residents, tourists and truck drivers," the federal Labor statement said.
"Most importantly, this work will improve road safety."
This masthead's FIX IT NOW campaign has been lobbying since March 2018 for a major overhaul of the highway to the Victorian border and for black spots to be immediately addressed.
"Between July 2012 and June 2017, there were 1,494 crashes on the Princes Highway between Jervis Bay Road and the Victorian border, resulting in 30 fatalities and 350 serious injuries," Labor said.
"Sadly, between December 2017 and June 2018, eight people lost their lives in accidents on the highway."
Labor said the Morrison Government would delay most promised investment until 2023-24.
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