The Albanese Government has committed $553,700 to address safety on Canberra roads under the Australian Capital Territory’s 2025-26 Black Spot Program funding round.

The funding will deliver traffic safety improvements at the intersection of Taverner and Laurens streets, Wanniassa, including line markings, signage, lighting upgrades, lane modifications and speed limit reductions. 

Various other intersections across the ACT will also be upgraded with right-turn red-arrow protection lanterns, which protect drivers, cyclists and pedestrians by ensuring vehicles do not turn into the path of crosswalk users or oncoming road traffic. 

This will include works at priority intersections including at Cooyong Street and Mort Street, Bunda Street, Akuna Street, Anketell Street and Pitman Street, while the full list of locations will be finalised through further detailed ACT Government analysis.   

The Black Spot Program funds safety measures such as traffic lights, safety barriers, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings at locations where crashes have occurred or are at risk of occurring.

These projects were considered and recommended by the ACT Black Spot Consultative Panel. This panel is comprised of local stakeholders who are best placed to ensure nominations of the highest priority and importance to the local community are recommended for approval. 

The Black Spot Program provides $150 million annually towards improving road safety at sites across the country. 

It is a key part of the Albanese Labor Government’s commitments under the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.

More projects are expected to be approved under the ACT’s 2026-27 Black Spot Program funding round, with details to be announced soon.

Anyone can nominate a Black Spot for consideration, including individuals, community groups and local councils.

To view the projects funded under the 2025-26 Black Spot Program, make a nomination, or for further information on the program, visit: https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives/black-spot-program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain MP:

“This latest round of Black Spot Program funding in Canberra will see road safety treatments undertaken at priority sites.

“The program delivers low-cost improvements that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the risk of serious crashes and fatalities on our roads.

“With our increased funding commitment to this long-running program, I encourage individuals, organisations, and local governments to nominate sites in their local communities for consideration in the next funding round.”

Quotes attributable to Chair of the ACT Black Spot Consultative Panel, Alicia Payne MP:

“As Chair of the Australian Capital Territory Black Spot Consultative Panel, I am proud to announce these much-needed safety improvements in Canberra.

“These projects have been recommended by those who know our local roads best – members of the public and road user groups.

“These important works will make our roads safer for all road users in Canberra.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Bean, David Smith MP:

“I kept hearing from my community the improvements they wanted to ensure our roads became safer, and this funding delivers on this.

“This funding will allow for various upgrades to be made across our community, in particular on Taverner and Laurens streets, which has been problematic for drivers and road users to navigate.

“This is another example of two strong Labor Government’s working together for our community. I look forward to seeing further submissions made under the Black Spot Program.”