New passing lanes on Indian Ocean Drive between Seabird and Lancelin are now under construction following the State Government’s safety review of the road last year.
The State Government initiated the safety review last year in response to a series of serious and fatal crashes between Lancelin and Two Rocks.
Key short to medium term recommendations from the report were lowering the speed limit – which was reduced to 100kmh immediately after the review last November – and the construction of further passing lanes.
The WA Police Force has also continued to provide strong traffic enforcement measures.
These two northbound and two southbound passing lanes are part of an overall $7 million package of works to improve safety on Indian Ocean Drive, funded by the State Government’s Regional Road Safety Package.
The project will complement other recently completed safety improvement works including:
- The installation of centre and edge audible line markings between Two Rocks and Lancelin;
- 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.
Future works include 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.
The $4.25 million passing lane contract has been awarded to Central Earthmoving, with construction expected to be completed by December 2018.