Australian Government Black Spot Program


Program description

The Australian Government's Black Spot Program helps to reduce crashes and save lives on Australian roads by funding relatively low cost safety works where there have been serious crashes or where serious crashes are likely to occur.

Sites put forward under the Black Spot Program must meet a range of eligibility criteria including a proven history of casualty crashes.

Completed projects

Construction was completed in December 2021 to install traffic lights at two intersections along Southern Cross Drive as part of the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program. The intersections are:

  • Southern Cross Drive and Ross Smith Crescent, Scullin/Florey
  • Southern Cross Drive and Chewings Street, Scullin/Page.

Road crashes are a major cost to Australians every year. Black Spot projects target those road locations where crashes are occurring. By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the program reduces the risk of crashes.

Crash statistics

A total of 69 collisions occurred in the five-year period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016 along Southern Cross Drive between Kingsford Smith Drive and Coulter Drive. These included one fatality and seven injury collisions. It was based on these statistics that these intersections were identified for traffic lights.

However in the four years since (1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020) a further 37 collisions have occurred, including one fatality and five injury collisions, indicating the continued need for intervention.

Photos

Intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Ross Smith Crescent

Before
Southern Cross Drive and Ross Smith Crescent intersection
After
New traffic lights installed at the intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Ross Smith Crescent

Intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Chewings Street

Before
Southern Cross Drive and Chewings Street intersection
After
New traffic lights at the intersection of Southern Cross Drive and Chewings Street

Construction is complete along Mawson Drive between Athllon Drive and Ainsworth Street in Mawson. The project delivered:

  • channelisation of Mawson Drive to single lanes in both directions, with dedicated turning lanes
  • conversion of Mountevans Street to left-in and left-out only
  • introduction of a 40 km/h zone on Mawson Drive between Athllon Drive and Hurley Street
  • installation of traffic calming devices, including asphalt speed humps and raised pedestrian crossings, within the 40 km/h zone (see map below for locations).

Construction was completed in July 2023 to install traffic lights at this intersection. In addition, the speed limit was reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h on an approximately 800-metre section of Hindmarsh Drive from east of Brierly Street to west of Carbeen Street on Hindmarsh Drive.

Construction was completed in September 2023 to upgrade the existing traffic signals to include a signalised right-turn arrow from Phillip Avenue into Windeyer Street. In addition, a dedicated through lane and localised formal on-road cycle lane was also constructed on Phillip Avenue.

Construction was completed in October 2023 to install new traffic lights and two additional right-turn lanes in both directions on Limestone Avenue at the intersection. The existing signalised pedestrian crossing was also removed.

Construction was completed in October 2023 to convert the intersection into a left-in/left-out only for the community with removal of the right turn from Isabella Drive into Benham Street. The right-turn from Benham Street onto Isabella Drive has remained accessible for emergency vehicles only.

Related projects