In March 2014, a Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) investigation into the the troubled road identified four ‘‘crash clusters’’ between Bulli Tops and the Appin township.

The deadliest cluster is  a 200-metre section of curved road  north-west of Loddon Creek Bridge.

This has been the site of at least three fatal accidents in recent years, including the  2011 death of Illawarra Stingrays player Ashleigh Conner and last year’s death of 28-year-old Rene White.

There have also been more than 10 crashes at this site.

Another cluster  is just 400metres further north, located on the same curve.

RMS has plans for a $5.5million realignment of the curves on this stretch of road with work due to start early next year. Before then, work will begin on safety improvements at the West Cliff Colliery intersection, the site of another crash cluster.

There have been two fatalities here, the most recent in January. 

In December, RMS carried out work to improve skid resistance on Appin Road near this intersection.

In the coming months improvements will be made to the lighting at the intersection and a vehicle-activated warning system that will alert motorists near the intersection that a truck has turned on to Appin Road.

These works will be the latest in a series of efforts to improve the safety of the road.

In February, the speed limit  between Bulli and just south of the Appin township was reduced from 100km/h to 90km/h.

A Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) spokeswoman said that three years of data was required to conclusively identify if the speed reduction has led to fewer and less severe crashes.

But the road has become safer with people obeying the reduced speed limit.

‘‘Speed monitoring by Roads and Maritime Services since the change shows travel speeds at four locations along Appin Road have reduced by between six and 10 kilometres an hour on average, improving safety,’’ the spokeswoman said.

She said RMS and the Centre for Road Safety would continue to monitor changes to crash rates on Appin Road to assess the impact of the safety measures, including the speed limit change.

The spokeswoman also said other improvements to Appin Road had been introduced since the speed limit change.

‘‘Additional safety improvements carried out since the speed reduction include electronic vehicle activated signs to warn motorists of curves ahead, roadside safety barriers and line marking adjustments, including some intersection changes,’’ she said.