- Published:
- Monday 10 September 2018
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 western Victoria, Regional Roads Victoria will oversee more $45 million of improvement works on roads right across the region’s 5,500-kilometre arterial road network this season.
More than three kilometres of the Midland Highway will be repaired and rehabilitated, targeting rough areas north of both Meredith and Elaine, while $1.5 million worth of improvements will be carried out on a two-kilometre stretch of the Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road.
A 1.2 kilometre section of the Western Freeway at Pykes Creek will be repaired, delivering a safer, more reliable journey for road users along one of the state’s busiest freight and transport routes.
The upcoming maintenance program will also deliver improved safety and decrease the wear and tear on vehicles travelling along the Ballarat-Maryborough Road, thanks to 2.9 kilometres of road surface repairs north of Miners Rest.
An average of 2,600 vehicles use the Ballarat-Maryborough Road each day, with 13 percent of this traffic made up by heavy commercial vehicles.
Victorians will now be able to find out what works are underway or planned across the state via the new website – regionalroads.vic.gov.au – 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 Buninyong Geoff Howard
“We’ve heard the communities of western Victoria loud and clear – that’s why we’re getting on with the job of upgrading the roads people rely on everyday.”
“This season’s maintenance blitz is all part of the Andrews Labor Government’s record $941 million investment in regional roads.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharron Knight
“Based in Wendouree, Regional Roads Victoria will create local jobs, provide better access to information for our community and will have the sole focus of fixing the regional roads that need it most.”
“The massive program of works announced today is just the beginning, we’ll have more to say about road rebuilds, resurfacing and further upgrades as the maintenance season ramps up.”