RESIDENTS are calling for road upgrades following another death on Coalfields Highway.
Concerned resident Dion Jackson said something needed to be done about the roads in Collie after his family were run off the same stretch of road involved in Tuesday morning's accident which claimed a Bunbury man's life.
His plea came as another man was injured after he rolled his car yesterday morning on Coalfields Highway near Worsley.
Mr Jackson said he was taking his family camping during the Easter break when a car came flying round the corner forcing him to drive onto the gravel.
"There have been many grievances on Collie roads lately and worried residents are asking when the promised road improvements from the state government will begin," Mr Jackson said.
Labor Leader Mark McGowan and Shadow Minster for Transport Ken Travers visited Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray and the Shire of West Arthur president Ray Harrington on Tuesday to drive on accident-prone roads in Collie.
Mr Murray said his main concern was that when the new grain export facility was operating from Bunbury Port the traffic flow would increase through Collie and with it would come more traffic accidents.
Mr McGowan said the new bulk grain export facility at Bunbury could mean an extra 1000 grain trucks per week on roads such as the Coalfields Highway.
Main Roads WA identified $65 million worth of road upgrades to cope with extra traffic for the new grain export facility.
He said only about $6.7 million had been funded by the state government so far.
"The Barnett government failed to take these road upgrades into account when it approved the facility," Mr McGowan said.
"This funding must be included in the state budget to ensure roads in Collie and West Arthur Shires are safe."
The day before Mr McGowan's visit, Mr Travers and Mr Murray met with the Collie Shire to discuss the highway and Throssell Street.
Collie Shire executive manager of technical services Brett Lowcock said the shire discussed issues and priorities which had been raised by council with him.
He said the shire was working with Main Roads to urge them to proceed and prioritise with the road upgrades.
Mr Lowcock said a lot of the work had been held up due to land issues.
"We have been stressing for them to get on and implement the proposed upgrades," Mr Lowcock said.
"The corner of road where the accident occurred on Tuesday morning is one of the most dangerous sections."
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said $53 million had been allocated for upgrades on that section of Coalfields Highway since 2008.
"The Liberal-led state government allocated $25 million in its first term for much needed improvements on Coalfields Highway and last year, we provided an additional $28 million to continue these works," he said.
"These works are being delivered and are resulting in significant improvement to the highway."
Mr Nalder said roadworks were under way on Roelands Hill which would result in a 4km extension to the existing climbing lanes to create a 7km long overtaking lane.
"The glaring cold fact is that under nearly eight years of Labor government, of which Mr McGowan was a key player, not a single dollar was allocated to capital works improvements on Coalfields Highway," Mr Nalder said.