Barwon Heads Road project opens ahead of schedule

FEDERAL Government MPs were in Geelong this week to mark completion of the first stage of the Barwon Heads Road duplication six months ahead of schedule.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King joined Corangamite MP Libby Coker on Wednesday to formally mark the new road’s opening.

The upgrade provides four kilometres of new lanes between Settlement Road, Belmont and Reserve Road, Charlemont.

The road’s over-rail bridge at Marshall opened May 24, with major construction and intersection upgrades finished well ahead of the end of 2023 deadline.

A shared use path alongside four kilometres of extra lanes is due to finish later this month, while crews will return in warmer weather to lay a final layer of asphalt.

Some lane closures will continue as final works such as landscaping continue, but authorities indicated these would be limited to outside of peak travel times.

The $365-million project received $292 million from the federal government and $73 from the state government.

“The Barwon Heads Road Upgrade will boost capacity and remove a key traffic bottleneck for locals travelling between Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula for work, school, weekend sport, and importantly, for emergency services,” Ms Coker said.

“It will also support the fast-growing Armstrong Creek urban growth area and ensure visitors can travel safely across our region.

“We recognise how important this upgrade is for so many people – that’s why the state and federal government will continue working together to get the second stage of the upgrade underway as soon as possible.”

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said the level crossing removal at Marshall would significantly improve the road.

“The replacement of the level crossing with the bridge over the rail line at Marshall is a major boost to both the safety and the reliability of travel on the road.”

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant “pleased the community and travellers are now reaping the full benefits of the upgrade”.

A second stage of the project is now in planning to duplicate the road through to the Lower Duneed Road-Barwon Heads Road roundabout.

Both the federal and state governments have already committed $125 million each top build the next stage.

A business case is due before the end of this year which would guide government decisions on design options.