Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs and Federal Member for Paterson Bob Baldwin MP last week announced funding of $13,195,500 to fix 36 dangerous black spots on Hunter roads.

The approved projects for the Paterson electorate, total $4,895,500.

Closer to home specifically, $470,000 is allocated to Dungog Road from Wallaringa Road.

Macintosh Street at Forster has received $200,000.

The Pacific Highway at Nerong has also been allocated $200,000.

The projects were recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts and will be delivered during the course of the coming financial year (2015-16).

Mr Baldwin said this investment in black spot projects will deliver safer and more efficient roads for Paterson and the wider Hunter through targeted upgrades proven to deliver results.

“Black spot projects target dangerous roads to save lives and reduce road trauma, ensuring our local road network is safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians,” Mr Baldwin said.

“The good thing about the Black Spot Programme is that anyone can suggest an intersection or section of road they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade”.

Mr Briggs said the Australian Government’s record commitment of $500 million to the Black Spot Programme in the 2014 Budget would fix more roads than ever before and fast-track better roads.

“As a result of our additional investment, an extra 110 projects will be funded in New South Wales over 2015-16,” Mr Briggs said.

“Based on the outcomes typically delivered by black spot projects, these extra projects are expected to save an additional 13 lives and prevent 671 injury crashes over 10 years, and deliver economic dividends of around $214 million.