ALMOST 100 people will be employed when work on the next stage of safety upgrades on the Mitchell Highway starts next month, according to the NSW Government.
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It follows the completion late last year of work on a 1.3-kilometre section at Oaky Creek Lane, 20 kilometres west of Bathurst, where the highway was widened in both directions and the intersection was upgraded to provide room to pass cars turning off.
Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the NSW Government has provided $50 million over five years under the Saving Lives on Country Roads program to make the highway between Bathurst and Orange safer.
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Around 10,000 vehicles a day use that road, he said.
"We are now halfway through the five-year program, which has already seen the installation of three kilometres of rumble strips and 1.3 kilometres of safety barriers and wide centre lines," Mr Toole said.
He said the recent completion of the Oaky Creek Lane project, west of the Beekeeper's Inn, employed 50 people.
"Work to install safety treatments along a 2.5-kilometre section of highway at Guyong, and a 1.7-kilometre section of highway at East Guyong are due to start in September and will support around 95 jobs," he said.
Mr Toole said rumble strips, which alert drivers who are drifting out of their lane, have been proven to reduce the likelihood of run-off road crashes and head-on crashes by up to 25 per cent.
"When coupled with other safety treatments, including widened shoulders, safety barriers and wide centre lines, these treatments translate to improved road safety, meaning those who set off on a journey can return home safely," he said.
Transport for NSW says it will advise the community in advance of the next phase of works starting.
