Boom Gates for Rail Crossings - Northern Territory

Project Description

The Australian Government is providing $2.5 million over 2008-09 and 2009-10 to fund the installation of boom gates and other safety measures at 3 high risk rail level crossing sites across the Northern Territory. 

The installation of boom gates along with pedestrian improvements and other associated works at or in the vicinity of the rail level crossings at the locations specified in the Schedule, being locations which are on and off the National Network.

The projects were identified by the Northern Territory Government using a model that takes into account factors such as road and rail traffic volumes, crash history, visibility for motorists and train drivers, the number of rail tracks at the crossing and other public risks.

• Northern Territory approved rail level crossings projects 
• Map of level crossings in the Northern Territory

Benefits

The Northern Territory presents a low level of risk in terms of rail level crossing safety due to the limited rail network comparative to the Australian States. This is reflected in the low number of vehicle collisions over the period 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2008 comparative to other States (four in the Northern Territory compared to 578 across Australia (source ATSB figures). During 2008, there were 11 near misses and only one collision (with no injuries). 

Funding

The Australian Government is providing $2.5 million to this program.

Timetable

Work commenced in mid 2009 and the program is expected to be completed around the middle of 2010.