The Great Ocean Road at Mt Defiance will be temporarily closed to traffic for four days in late May to allow for vital geotechnical, drainage and road rebuilding works to be completed.
From Monday May 28 to Thursday May 31 around two kilometres of the iconic coastal route will be closed in both directions so VicRoads can undertake urgent upgrade works to improve the safety and longevity of the road.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said works would include the replacement and upgrade of several culverts to improve long-term drainage at the site and reduce the risk of future landslides.
“A large section of damaged road surface will be rebuilt to improve the strength and safety of the road for drivers,“ Mr McCormack said.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said workers would remove loose rocks and drill boreholes at high-risk geotechnical hazard sites to help guide the design and construction of future road stabilisation treatments.
“I know that this closure will have significant impacts for local communities but it is critical to ensuring our iconic Great Ocean Road remains safe and strong,” he said.
Federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson encouraged local communities along the Great Ocean Road to attend upcoming information sessions to learn more about the upgrade works and planned closure.
“A planned closure now on this section of the road when traffic volumes are historically lower will mean any longer unplanned closures can be avoided in the future,” Ms Henderson said.
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said it was important local residents and businesses were aware of the upcoming closure so they can plan their journeys well in advance.
“Communities and businesses along the Great Ocean Road will still be accessible via a detour route, but drivers will need to allow extra travel time,” Ms Tierney said.
The section of the road to be closed – about 10 kilometres west of Lorne at Mt Defiance – is incredibly narrow and perched on a rocky cliff-face which makes it unsuitable and unsafe to run a lane of traffic alongside the road work.
Due to the geography of the site, there are some works that cannot be carried out at night.
During the closure a detour route will be in place. Traffic will travel from Lorne to Deans Marsh via the Deans Marsh-Lorne Road and then onto Forrest-Apollo Bay Road to arrive back on the Great Ocean Road at Apollo Bay.
These works are part of the Australian and Victorian governments’ $100 million investment to upgrade the Great Ocean Road.
The Victorian Government has also committed an additional $53 million to safeguard the geotechnical future of the road following the 2016 floods and landslides at Separation Creek and Wye River.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS
Anglesea
Anglesea SLSC
Thursday 19 April, 4pm-6pm
Apollo Bay
Apollo Bay Golf Club
Tuesday 17 April, 4pm-6pm
Lorne
Cumberland Resort Auditorium
Wednesday 18 April, 4pm -6pm
Melbourne
Multicultural Hub, Purple Room
506 Elizabeth St, Melbourne (opp. Queen Vic Market)
Thursday 19 April, 4pm-6pm
Wye River
Wye SLSC
Monday 16 April, 4pm-6pm
Reviewed 19 August 2020