The Andrews Labor Government will continue rebuilding Victoria’s regional roads, improving safety and creating more jobs.
The Victorian Budget 2017/18 allocates more than $500 million to rebuild the state’s regional road network, doubling road maintenance investment, upgrading bridges, and constructing new bypasses.
More than 850 kilometres of deteriorating roads in regional Victoria will benefit from a $260 million maintenance boost for repair and resurfacing.
Roads across the south west region will receive a massive $113 million safety boost. At least 40 kilometres of narrow arterial roads will be repaired and widened to handle growing traffic.
The south west will also receive upgrades to key freight routes on roads around the Port of Portland and the Henty Highway in the Green Triangle which will support farmers, create jobs and boost exports.
Upgrades to the Great Ocean Road will make it safer and reduce the risk of future closures due to landslips with new rock fall netting, retaining walls and armour stone to prevent erosion.
The Budget also includes $50 million to improve and realign the South Gippsland Highway at Koonwarra and almost $7 million to construct a dual-lane roundabout at the Phillip Island Road/Woolamai Beach Road intersection in partnership with the Commonwealth.
In addition, $49 million will deliver upgrades to regional and rural roads across the State to improve productivity and safety for heavy vehicles, including the Hume Freeway and Princes Highway East.
The Shepparton Bypass is a step closer with $10.2 million to plan and undertake preconstruction works for the first stage of the 36 kilometre bypass. The future Bypass will include a second heavy vehicle crossing at the Goulburn River along with other key intersection upgrades.
Bridges across the state will also be strengthened or replaced with $41 million to better cater for high productivity freight vehicles and to get products more efficiently to market.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“We’re upgrading regional roads because Victorians deserve roads they can rely on, wherever they live.”
“These investments will improve safety, and make it easier and more efficient for producers and local businesses to get their goods to market.”
“We’re getting on with building the roads regional Victorians need to create jobs, slash congestion and support regional economies.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020