Major work is underway to rebuild a deteriorated section of the Princes Highway at Heywood to provide a safer and more reliable route for drivers.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan today inspected the $2.9 million overhaul of the Princes Highway north of the Fitzroy River bridge to the Princes Highway and Henty Highway intersection.
The upgrade will deliver a smoother road surface, a rebuilt slip lane, new culverts and improved drainage.
There’ll also be new signs and bollards at the truck stop and a disused rail crossing will be removed.
Over time, heavy traffic combined with wet weather has deteriorated the intersection and other portions of the Princes Highway.
About 4,300 vehicles use the Princes Highway intersection every day, including hundreds of trucks.
This vital upgrade is part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $530 million investment to improve regional roads.
Across the south west, $95 million is being spent on rebuilding 17 kilometres of roads, as well as widening, resurfacing, asphalting, sealing and repairs to road shoulders at over 100 locations.
An additional $40 million has been allocated to widen and strengthen narrow roads, with local communities and businesses celebrating the repair of Myamyn-Macarthur Road and Foxhow Road this year.
To support the region's local economy and generate more jobs, the Labor Government has also invested $40 million to rebuild four key freight routes in the Green Triangle, to make sure these roads are fit to carry freight to the Port of Portland.
Work on the Princess Highway at Heywood is due for completion by the end of the year
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“We recognise how important roads are to the community, businesses and freight companies, which is why we’ve doubled spending on road maintenance and rehabilitation this year.”
“This year VicRoads will be doing more work than it’s done in the south west in decades.”
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“People in the south west deserve roads they can rely on, and this investment will make sure the Princes Highway at Heywood is safer and more reliable than ever before.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020