NEW passing lanes on Indian Ocean Dr between Seabird and Lancelin are now under construction following the McGowan Government’s safety review of the road last year.
The government initiated the safety review last year in response to a series of serious and fatal crashes between Lancelin and Two Rocks.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said key short to medium term recommendations from the report were lowering the speed limit – which was reduced to 100km/h immediately after the review last November – and the construction of further passing lanes.
Ms Saffioti said the two northbound and two southbound passing lanes were part of an overall $7 million package of works to improve safety on Indian Ocean Dr, funded by the government’s regional road safety package.
She said the project would complement other recently completed safety improvement works including the installation of centre and edge audible line markings between Two Rocks and Lancelin.
It would also include maintenance work on centre and edge lines to enhance visibility and reflectivity, vegetation clearing to improve sight lines, new advanced guide signs at the end of the current passing lanes and new wildlife warning signs between Two Rocks and Lancelin and the replacement of guide signs.
She said future works included a design review of intersections between Two Rocks and Lancelin, installation of more audible line markings, work to increase the seal width and creating a one-metre-wide centreline treatment for the entire length of the road.
“This treatment will create a greater distance between opposing traffic, providing additional reaction time if a driver unintentionally drifts across the centre line towards oncoming traffic,’’ she said.
The $4.25m passing lane contract has been awarded to Central Earthmoving, with construction expected to be completed by December.
