Regional railway crossings across South Australia will receive safety upgrades thanks to the Australian Government’s Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund (RLCUF).

The RLCUF aims to improve railway crossing safety in regional areas and reduce serious injury and fatal crashes that have a devastating impact on communities.

The Australian Government has committed $160 million over four years to state and territory governments to fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of delivering railway crossing upgrades.

As part of this, the South Australian Government will receive $654,000 under Round 2 of the RLCUF to carry out a program of works across the regional road network.

These works will be delivered in partnership with local councils and the Australian Rail Track Corporation.

This investment will help to deliver important upgrades at 119 regional level crossings.

Priority areas for these upgrades include:

• two level crossings on the Barrier Highway at Ucolta and Bindarrah
• four level crossings on Wheat Road, Beaufort Road, Branch Hill Road and McLachlan Road in Beaufort, and
• five level crossings on Tassie Street, Madland Street, Stirling Road, Hospital Road and Carlton Parade in Port Augusta.

Works will include upgrading Active Advance Warning Signs and installing reflective signage. These interventions enhance motorists’ awareness when approaching level crossings, especially at night and in poor weather conditions.

This investment builds on the previous $6.2 million South Australia received in the first round of funding in 2024.

For more information, visit https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/rail/regional-australia-level-crossing-safety-program.

Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“The Australian Government is committed to improving railway crossing safety across South Australia through the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund.

“This investment will fund upgrades such as flashing lights and improved signage to better alert motorists and pedestrians approaching railway crossings in regional South Australia.

“We are continuing to work with the South Australian Government to make level crossings safer across the state, at hundreds of sites across the network”

Quotes attributable to SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Emily Bourke:

“We welcome the Australian Government’s investment and commitment to improving the safety of level crossings across South Australia.

“This is a major funding boost under the second round of the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund and will allow us to expand our existing program of works.

“These upgrades will reduce the risk of dangerous collisions and improve the overall safety of our railway crossings for years to come.”