After years of approaches to the State Government requesting a much-needed reduction in the speed limit on the Sturt Highway at Blanchetown, Member for Stuart, Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP is pleased the government has finally agreed to the local community’s proposal.

Having previously made the suggestion to two former Ministers for Road Safety who both rejected it, another proposal in April this year has been accepted by the government.

“I was very pleased to receive today a commitment from Minister Malinauskas that that road safety on this section of the Sturt Highway will be significantly improved,” Mr van Holst Pellekaan said.

“This is an important issue raised by local people which I am very familiar with from travelling the area for well over 20 years.

“Local people, visitors to the region and transport operators will now all travel this stretch of the Sturt Highway more safely and emergency services workers will sleep better at night worrying less about potential motor vehicle accidents.”

Along with installing an 80km/h zone for a distance of about 3.6km, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure will make minor changes to line marking and will trim or remove vegetation to improve sight distances.

These works are expected to be completed by December 31, 2016. The Department also plans to improve opposing right turn lanes at the Sturt Hwy/Murraylands Rd intersection in the current financial year.