Five crash-heavy intersections in the City of Gosnells could soon receive major safety upgrades, after council endorsed funding submissions for the 2026/27 Black Spot Program and voted to join a statewide road safety initiative.
The targeted sites are Boardman Road and Birnam Road, Kenwick Road and Brixton Street, Murdoch Road and Towncentre Drive, Ranford Road and Southern River Road, and two Stalker Road intersections at Wheatley Street and Lissiman Street.
The upgrades, estimated to cost around $1.59 million, focus on intersections with a history of accidents, where speeding, poor visibility and driver behaviour have long raised concerns among residents.
Treatments will include raised plateaus, roundabout pre-deflections and a new turning lane to reduce vehicle speeds and traffic disruption.
City of Gosnells Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie said the proposed upgrades were carefully selected based on crash data and eligibility for Black Spot funding.
“Crash data confirms a history of traffic accidents at these sites, which contributed to their qualification for Black Spot funding consideration,” Mr Cowie said.
“Community feedback has generally supported the proposed upgrades. Residents have raised concerns about speeding, unsafe driver behaviour and general road safety.”
One of the sites, the intersection of Murdoch Road, Towncentre Drive and Berehaven Avenue, already has some pre-deflection treatments in place. The city plans to build on those foundations by adding raised plateaus to remaining entry points.
The remaining sites will receive new retro-fitted traffic calming devices.
If the grant applications are successful, four of the five projects will be fully funded, with the city contributing just under $12,000 to one project under the State program.
At the same council meeting, Deputy Mayor Serena Williamson moved a motion for the city to submit an expression of interest to join WALGA’s RoadWise Program. The program offers councils access to road safety services, crash data and technical support, and is currently operating at capacity.
“As the Chair of the Metropolitan Regional Road Elected Member Group, I have had the opportunity to gain deeper insights into road safety across WA, including within the City of Gosnells,” Cr Williamson said.
“Road safety is a high priority for me, and I believe it is equally important to my fellow Councillors.”
Cr Williamson cited a recent WALGA report that revealed 3,357 people were killed or seriously injured on local government roads between 2018 and 2022.
“This is a sobering statistic that highlights the need for serious, coordinated action,” she said.
“Joining the RoadWise program enhances our capacity to make data-driven decisions by providing access to a broader range of road traffic and crash data, along with valuable technical support if required.”
Both the Black Spot funding submission and the motion to join the RoadWise program were carried unanimously by council.
