The Government of Victoria in Australia has allocated A$226m ($152.7m) for upgrading dangerous roads and intersections in the state.

This is part of the government’s A$1.4bn ($946m) Towards Zero Road Safety Strategy. The upgrades are expected to start next year.

As part of these upgrades, safety barriers will be installed along 340km to prevent head-on and run-off-road accidents. Around 2,300km of barriers have been previously installed on the state’s highest-risk roads.

Moorooduc Road, the Western Port Highway and the Frankston Freeway will receive the barriers, as well as the Midland Highway, Gheringhap Road and the Murray Valley Highway.

In addition, 1,600km of rumble strip line-marking will be installed to alert drivers if they veer out of the lane accidentally.

Rumble strips, signage and line-marking are expected to improve the safety of 117 rural intersections, while the highest-risk sites will receive the Side Road Activated Speed technology.

To prevent dangerous turns, the government plans to install fully controlled right-turns at 12 intersections.

The funding will also provide speed humps, small roundabouts and intersection upgrades to 15 regional towns, while signs and line-marking at town entrances will be provided to 90 towns.

Minister for Roads Jaala Pulford said: “We’re almost at the end of an absolutely devastating year on our roads, with 246 people losing their lives, countless families missing a loved one at Christmas and friends who will bring in a new year without their mate.

“Next year we’ll be reaching more communities than ever before with hundreds of new road safety upgrades getting underway, including more lifesaving barriers on our highest-risk roads.”

Last month, the Australian Government awarded more than A$1bn ($615.4m) infrastructure package to the Victorian Government to boost its regional road network.