Premier

Building A Safer And Stronger Western Highway

19 December 2016

The Andrews Labor Government is making the Western Highway safer for all road users, with major upgrades set for three key projects along the busy road.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Colin Brooks, today announced a $60 million funding boost to start pre-construction work on the Ararat and Beaufort Bypasses and planning work for improvements between Stawell and the South Australian border.

The Ararat and Beaufort Bypasses will both receive $25 million for planning and detailed designs, ensuring that both projects are ready for construction.

Community feedback will help determine the best route for bypasses north of the towns. Both projects are in the early stages of planning.

The Western Highway Upgrade project has already seen 55 kilometres of highway upgraded and duplicated to four lanes between Ballarat and Buangor.

The Ararat and Beaufort Bypasses remain the missing links in the duplication, which currently ends at either side of both towns, meaning four lanes of traffic must merge to two lanes through the heart of the towns.

A further $10 million for planning work between Stawell and the South Australian border will strengthen the pavement to cater for the high volume of freight traffic. Road rehabilitation works will also improve the safety and reliability of the highway.

This funding will keep the project on track to improve road safety and freight efficiency to support farming, grain production, regional tourism and a range of manufacturing and services.

The $120 million package of works is joint-funded between the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments as part of the Victorian Infrastructure Package.

Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Colin Brooks

“We’re putting people first by making the Western Highway safer and more reliable, and ensuring our local producers can move their goods as safely and efficiently as possible.”

“This funding brings us one step closer to a complete upgrade of the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell – improving road safety for everyone.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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