Upper Lachlan Shire Council will receive more than $460,000 in Australian Government funding to straighten the notorious ‘devil’s elbow’ section of Grabben Gullen Road between Crookwell and Gunning.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said the realignment works will open up the region’s freight access and improve road safety.

“This is a fantastic result because opening up this section of road will make it safer for heavier vehicles and freight carriers, and increase Upper Lachlan Shire’s economic competitiveness and productivity,” he said.

“The shire’s producers and livestock carriers will especially see the benefits because they will be able to use this road for improved access to the recently-built South Eastern Livestock Exchange in Yass.

“Straightening this hair pin bend will mean better fatigue management, reduced travel distance and time, and vehicles with larger loads making fewer trips.

“Direct freight routes to markets are important in enticing industry to set up in the region, and confidence in getting produce efficiently to market will assist the region to grow.”

The Federal Government will contribute $460,046 towards the realignment works: $266,546 from Round 5 of Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme and $193,500 from the Black Spot Project Programme.

“I congratulate Upper Lachlan on making these successful submissions and recognising the strategic importance of this road (MR52) to the region,” Mr Taylor said.

Total cost of the project will be $1,079,908, with the remainder to be funded by $540,000 from the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Roads Programme and $79,862 from Upper Lachlan Shire Council.

Upper Lachlan Shire Council General Manager John Bell welcomed the Australian Government’s funding.

“Upper Lachlan Shire Council has been seeking funding to fix ‘devil’s elbow’ for several years,” he said.

“It is wonderful that the Australian Government has been able to assist us in making the stretch of road safer for all road users, including heavy vehicles.”

Mr Taylor said the Australian Government had committed $97.6 million to 86 projects nationwide under Round 5 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programme.

The Government has also committed $500 million to the Black Spot Project Programme from 2014-15 to 2018-19, which includes an additional $200 million over two years from 2015-16 to improve road safety across the nation.

“The Australian Government is continuing its commitment to deliver roads funding exactly where it’s needed based on the local knowledge of councils,” Mr Taylor said.