The Andrews Labor Government’s new, dedicated country roads body, Regional Roads Victoria, has opened its doors and is getting started on the biggest road maintenance blitz Victoria has ever seen.
Across northern Victoria, Regional Roads Victoria will oversee more than $54 million of improvement works on roads right across the region’s 3,800-kilometre arterial network.
As the weather warms, Regional Roads Victoria crews will be out in force completing upgrade works on the roads that local communities and industries rely on every day, as part of the record $333 million state-wide maintenance package.
More than 376 kilometres of road will be repaired, rebuilt or resurfaced over the next 12 months, improving the quality of the road network that services the regions’ growing tourism and freight industries.
This season, about $1.2 million will be spent fixing a 2.2 kilometre section of Sunraysia Highway near Woomelang and $1.7 million to rebuild 1.5 kilometres of Hattah-Robinvale Road near Wemen.
Tourists visiting Lake Tyrell and Kangaroo Lake from Swan Hill will benefit from safer and smoother journeys with sections of Sea Lake-Swan Hill Road and Murray Valley Highway to be strengthened and resurfaced.
A $1.9 million investment will ease wear and tear on heavy vehicles travelling from farms in the north to market along the Mallee Highway near the South Australian border, and south on the Loddon Valley Highway and Byrneside-Kyabram Road near Lancaster.
Travelling from Echuca to Terrick Terrick National Park will also be a smoother ride thanks to works on 1.2 kilometres of Echuca-Mitiamo Road near Lockington.
Victorians will now be able to find out what works are underway or planned across the state via the new website – – or through the new, dedicated, Ballarat-based call centre 133 RRV (778).
For the first time, the community can view and keep track of the annual program of maintenance works and projects thanks to a new interactive state-wide map.
Quote attributable to Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan
“Since coming to office we’ve doubled spending on road maintenance and from today regional Victoria will have a dedicated agency solely focused on fixing country roads.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp
“Roads are lifelines for regional communities – so we’re fixing them to make it easier for freight heading to market, tourists visiting places like Lake Tyrell and for locals getting around.”
“Regional Roads Victoria will drive the work that needs to be done to fix the roads we rely on every day – supporting our tourism, agricultural and freight industries.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020