Main roads Western Australia and GHD recognised for innovative low-cost urban road safety program

Main Roads WA and GHD have been awarded a High Commendation by the Australasian College of Road Safety in the annual Diamond 3M awards.

Main Roads Western Australia (Main Roads) and GHD co-designed the Low-Cost Urban Road Safety Program to deliver treatments to local roads in the Perth metropolitan area to reduce crash risks for drivers and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

This program will help support local governments to deliver cost effective and innovative solutions, with the intention that the safety benefits of the initial program will promote and guide the extension of future programs.

A geospatial data analytics platform, and liveability metric were created to identify where the greatest risk of road trauma exists, enabling Main Roads to assign road safety funding on a pre-emptive basis using both historical records and predicted activity.

GHD undertook extensive research to design effective low-cost local area traffic management treatments. Innovative approaches enabled the delivery of road safety treatments at less than 30% of the cost of traditional engineering solutions.

In collaboration with Main Roads, concept designs were developed to combine the most effective features of the mini-roundabout and plateau treatments. This work included digital testing of vehicle behaviour, 3D modelling and visualisation of the treatments from a road user perspective.

After higher-risk neighbourhoods were identified, and low-cost area traffic management treatments were planned, GHD and Main Roads worked with the relevant Local Governments to implement these treatments. A robust visual mapping tool, fact sheets and other stakeholder communications created a strong case for the efficacy of the proposed treatments and garnered the support of local counsellors and other non-technical stakeholders, including residents.

Outcomes of this program to date include;

• more sites treated for less expenditure
• unbiased investment decisions
• pre-emptive safety investment and
• improved driver behaviour.

The pilot phase of the project included the installation of mini and compact roundabouts and raised safety platform treatments at 19 intersections throughout Joondanna, Osborne Park and North Perth in collaboration with the City of Stirling and City of Vincent.

Preliminary traffic data comparisons from year one of the program indicated an overall decrease in 85th percentile speeds where road safety treatments were installed.

Feedback from residents, business owners, and local government counsellors have been positive in that vehicle speeds have decreased, pedestrians are more active and other risky driver behaviour is less frequent.

About GHD

GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 12,000+ professionals is connected across 160 offices located on five continents.