Traffic lights on the busy Picton Road/Hume Highway intersection at Wilton have been switched on, improving safety for thousands of motorists every day.

Federal Member for Hume and Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor will join State Member for Wollondilly Jai Rowell, RMS officials and Wollondilly Shire Council representatives at the site at 10am on Friday (1 April) to inspect the lights at the eastern and western ramp intersections with Picton Road.

The Federal and NSW governments both contributed $1.25 million towards the project which will improve the safety of the interchange by controlling which vehicles turn and when they turn, and remove confusion about who has the right of way.

Mr Taylor said about 22,000 vehicles drive through this interchange on Picton Road each day, and around 17 per cent of those were trucks and other heavy vehicles.

“The Australian Government is committed to improving safety black spots in partnership with state and local governments,” he said.

“We’re all aware of the poor safety record of Picton Road and this interchange in particular, with a number of serious and fatal crashes in recent years.”

Through the Black Spot and Roads to Recovery Programmes, the Australian Government is contributing over $7.5 million to improve local roads in the electorate of Hume, with over $1 million in the Wollondilly Shire alone.

This is in addition to important community upgrades such as the $250,000 Picton Sportsground Floodlighting Project.

“Congratulations to everyone involved for their efforts in improving road safety on the Picton Road,” Mr Taylor said.