The National Roads and Motorists' Association has used its 2016 federal budget submission to call for funding for the Newell, Great Western and Mitchell Highways.
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The NRMA submission, entered this week, coincides with the February increase in the petrol tax this Monday.
The petrol tax increased with CPI to 39.5 cents per litre, and will continue to go up twice a year.
With about half the interstate freight task in Australia traversing the NSW road network to deliver goods and services, funding for these major highways must be significantly increased for the benefit of economic growth, higher productivity, and the safety of all motorists and passengers.
The NRMA's Budget Submission has called for the Australian government to commit $100 million per year over the next four years to improve safety on the Newell Highway; and for funds to be urgently committed to the Great Western Highway west of Lithgow and the Mitchell Highway.
NRMA deputy president and Western NSW director Fiona Simson said a lack of funding from successive governments on those highways had contributed to a shocking number of serious crashes and fatalities.
"The Newell is the state's longest highway, and with freight accounting for 52 per cent of traffic, we need to remember this road experiences significant wear and tear," Ms Simson said.
"From 2000 to 2014, there were 143 fatalities on the Newell Highway, which is 143 too many.
"This equates to a cost to the economy of $890 million.
"Given up to 30 per cent of fatalities on our roads are linked to fatigue, increased rest stops, overtaking lanes and town bypasses will help save lives and improve the efficiencies of the highways.
"Put simply, we cannot efficiently move freight and passengers safely around our state without a well-developed road network," she said.
Reports commissioned by the NRMA have shown that there was an urgent need for an upgrade of the Great Western Highway between Lithgow and Bathurst, including additional overtaking lanes.
Reports have also found that there are 65 blackspots along the Great Western and Mitchell Highways.
"Given a lack of major government funding for the Great Western Highway west of Lithgow and the Mitchell Highway, we urge the Australian government to make funding for these forgotten and very dangerous roads a matter of serious urgency," Ms Simson said.
The submission calls on the Australia government to allocate the funds needed to upgrade all sections of the National Highway that were given a one or two star safety rating by the Australian Roads Assessment Program (AusRAP) 2013 report.
According to the AusRAP 2013 report: - Nine per cent of the Newell Highway is rated 1 Star; 54 per cent is rated 2 star - 52 per cent of the Great Western Highway is rated 1 star; 34 per cent is rated 2 star - Two per cent of the Mitchell Highway is rated 1 star; 62 per cent is rated 2 star.
