Contracts awarded for Barwon Heads Road upgrade

MAJOR works on the Barwon Heads Road upgrade will begin next month, with contracts awarded to build the $318 million project.

The project will be delivered concurrently through a trio of construction partners, creating about 500 local jobs and about 1,400 indirect jobs.

Decmil, BMD Constructions and BildGroup will build the project in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria.

The road authority has been completing site investigation and preparation works over the past few months ahead of major construction of the upgrade, which will duplicate the northern four kilometres of the road that runs down the eastern border of the Armstrong Creek growth area.

As well as duplicating the road between Settlement Road in Belmont and Reserve Road in Marshall, the project will remove a level crossing at Marshall, upgrade intersections at Settlement Road and Breakwater Road and install new traffic lights at Crows Road, Barwarre Road, Marshalltown Road and Reserve Road.

Four kilometres of new shared walking and cycling paths will also be built, as well as dedicated on-road cycling lanes.

The Barwon Heads Road upgrade is being delivered through a new partnership approach to road building contracts that means major projects move from paper to pavement sooner and more easily.

This approach was supported by the federal government’s fast-tracking of the assessment and approval phases to support the release of funding for the works.

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the upgrade would provide better connections to active and public transport modes and ensure Barwon Heads Road could cater for the up to 44,000 daily journeys expected on the road by 2031.

“Greater Geelong has the largest population growth in regional Victoria, which is why we’re taking action to deliver not only this much-needed upgrade but a suite of Big Build projects in the region to provide better journeys for the people who live and work here,” Ms Allan said.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said the improvements to Barwon Heads Road would increase safety for the growing Bellarine community and get people home faster.

“This much-needed upgrade will reduce travel times for the many families, business owners and essential services travelling between Geelong and the Bellarine and make a huge difference in safety for students and cyclists through better pathways and cycleways.”