Stage Three of the $363.47 million Princes Highway West Duplication between Winchelsea and Colac is underway, with work starting today on a section between Warncoort and Ballie Street in Colac East.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the Princes Highway West was a key route for regional commuters, freight traffic and tourists, and delivering a more reliable highway meant quicker travel times and safer journeys for all.
“From Winchelsea to Colac, the highway is a two-lane, single carriageway with narrow sealed shoulders. This upgrade will tackle the problem of poor visibility and terrain which leads to motorists becoming frustrated and undertaking dangerous overtaking manoeuvres,” Mr Chester said.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the works would include construction of a new two-lane carriageway and rehabilitation of the existing carriageway to provide a four-lane divided road.
“The Princes Highway Duplication project is a crucial investment for residents and farmers who reside along this corridor, which is also an important part of the state’s tourism infrastructure as a gateway to the Great Ocean Road,” Mr Donnellan said.
Federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson, who was on site as works got underway today, said around 8.5 kilometres of the highway from Warncoort to Colac East would be duplicated.
“The completed project will increase capacity, improve travel time reliability and vehicle safety and reduce vehicle operating costs and environmental emissions,” Ms Henderson said.
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said construction on the overall Winchelsea to Colac duplication started in mid-2015 and would be complete by late 2019, weather permitting.
“Construction is underway on other stages of this Princes Highway West project, from Winchelsea to Armytage and Armytage to Warncoort. The Colac CBD stage was completed in May 2015,” Ms Tierney said.
The $363.5 million Winchelsea to Colac Duplication is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.
Reviewed 19 August 2020