$1.2 million to restore road surface on Henty Highway
Minister for Roads Terry Mulder and local members Hugh Delahunty and Denis Napthine announced today that a notorious stretch of the Henty Highway, between Hamilton and Branxholme, will undergo $1.2 million worth of pavement reconstruction works.
Mr Mulder said the restoration would bring great relief to the many motorists who depended upon the highway.
“This 2.15 kilometre section of the highway, north of Branxholme, has understandably been a source of great concern and frustration amongst road users,” Mr Mulder said.
“I’m very pleased to announce that as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $45 million repair and restore package for road maintenance, more than two kilometres of the Henty Highway surface will be reconstructed.”
VicRoads has been undertaking interim asphalt patching but will now complete a full pavement reconstruction to provide a long-term fix for the road surface.
Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the new funding would ensure that necessary repairs could be undertaken, which would see the existing road surface ripped up, strengthened, smoothed and sealed.
“A number of other works will be undertaken in conjunction with the pavement reconstruction, including improved drainage at the site,” Mr Delahunty said.
“These improvements will not only create a smoother, safer road for motorists, they will also preserve the longevity of the road and reduce the maintenance it requires in future.”
The reconstruction will soon be put out to tender and is expected to start on the ground by January 2013.
Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine said he was aware of how important this road was to south-western communities and what a big part the road network played in people’s livelihoods.
“The Henty Highway is an important strategic route to the port of Portland from the Western part of the state, and carries a variety of freight including grain, livestock and mineral sands, as well as a key route for Heywood and Portland residents travelling to Hamilton and beyond.
“The works announced today are another example of the Coalition Government’s commitment to maintaining and preserving road infrastructure on major freight and commuter routes throughout Victoria,” Dr Napthine said.
