Container wall built near Lorne to protect Great Ocean Road

A TEMPORARY wall of containers has been installed along the Great Ocean Road near Lorne this summer to prevent rock falls or landslips impacting the road.

The project, which has been built close to the cliff-face east of the Cumberland River, means this section of road was restored to two lanes ahead of Christmas.

More complex rock removal works are planned at the site in the new year.

The structure is 17 containers long and two containers high, with the containers lifted into place by a crane, before being anchored to the cliff with steel posts.

It will be the first time this solution has been used on the Great Ocean Road.

Drone surveying carried out earlier in the year by Regional Roads Victoria’s (RRV) geotechnical team identified that specialist rock removal would be required at this site.

Concrete barriers and traffic management have been in place since September with only one lane open, and the two lanes have been reopened to traffic under a 40kmh speed limit.

On top of this work, about 100 new “drive on left” signs and about 100 new and repainted directional arrows are also being rolled out along the Great Ocean Road to provide simple and constant reminders to drivers unfamiliar with travelling on the left side of the road.

There are presently about 160 arrows and about 200 “Drive on Left” signs along the road, as well as multilingual Variable Message Signs in operation at the Twelve Apostles and at various worksites where drivers need to be alerted to changed road conditions.

“We want everyone to be able to experience everything the Great Ocean Road has to offer – and most importantly to be safe while doing so,” RRV chief regional roads officer Paul Northey said.

“Simple measures like installing more directional arrows and signage will help keep road users stay safe by reinforcing the ‘Drive on Left’ message.”

To find out more about works planned for the Great Ocean Road, visit regionalroads.vic.gov.au.