JENNY AITCHISON
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT AND ROADS

PHIL DONATO
INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR ORANGE

ROY BUTLER
INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR BARWON

MEDIA RELEASE - RUMBLE STRIPS TO IMPROVE SAFETY BETWEEN ORANGE AND BOURKE

Work to improve safety along 500 kilometres of the Mitchell Highway between Orange in the state’s central west and Bourke in the far north-west is underway, with the installation of rumble strips.

Work to install the Audio Tactile Line Marking (ATLM), better known as rumble strips, started in Nyngan and is scheduled to continue progressively along the route until May.

The work involves installing approximately 800 kilometres of rumble strips, which includes edge and centre lines, and about 300 kilometres of new line marking.

There will be impacts to traffic outside of towns where the speed limit is 80 km/h and above, and crews will move frequently along the road corridor with mobile traffic control so motorists are being asked to be alert and patient, and slow down when they approach the convoy.

Quotes from Minister for Regional Transport and Road Jenny Aitchison:

“The safety of all road users is our number one priority and rumble strips are a highly effective safety treatment, proven to reduce crashes by 15 to 25 per cent.

“The Mitchell Highway is a significant route for NSW travellers and freight operators connecting the central west to the northern region up to the Queensland border.

“Providing that vibration effect if a vehicle leaves its travel lane alerts the driver and provides time for them to correct their path to avoid a serious accident.”

Quotes from Independent Member for Orange Phil Donato:

“I welcome Minister Aitchison’s announcement of the installation of rumble strips along the Mitchell Highway between Orange and Bourke, commencing this week.

“Fatigue is often a contributing factor in serious collisions on country roads, and rumble strips will be an important safety upgrade to help decrease the incidence of fatal and other serious motor vehicle collisions on this busy route.”

Quotes from Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“I welcome any move that will make our roads safer. Rumble strips are a relatively simple way of improving safety on a major highway.”

The Orange to Bourke project is part of the NSW Government’s $46 million Saving Lives accelerated Program to install ATLM on key regional and rural routes in the three years to 2026.

More information on the project can be found here.

MEDIA:

Wendy Fitzgibbon | Minister Aitchison | 008 427 540