Road repairs get moving

THE State Government has announced a road maintenance blitz to repair roads across the state.

The $964 million project is the largest amount of funding allocated to annual road maintenance in the state’s history.

More than 70 per cent of the funding will be allocated to regional Victoria towards projects such as road rehabilitation and resurfacing, patching potholes, and maintaining bridges, traffic lights, signage and road infrastructure.

The Western Highway will be upgraded between Spring Hill Creek and Trawalla Road as well as near Mallee Dam Road intersection at Nhill and between Beaufort-Carngham Road and Olinda Street.

Works will also be carried out on Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road at Bacchus Marsh and on the Midland Highway between Blampied and Newlyn North.

Further North, Bendigo-Redesdale Road will be upgraded between Wedge Gully Road and Sutton Grange Road, and works will be carried out on Heathcote-Rochester Road between the Midland Highway and Mustley Road.

“We’re investing nearly a billion dollars to rebuild and repair the roads that Victorians depend on every single day — from the highways connecting our major centres to the local roads that keep our communities moving,” said minister for roads and road safety, Melissa Horne.

“Crews will be out delivering $2.6 million of works every day for a year – with around 70 per cent of all funding going towards our regional roads.”

Priority will also be given to flood damaged roads after significant rainfall last year damaged infrastructure.

The final list of flood damaged roads will be confirmed in coming months.