Funding to fix country roads

THE state government has announced upgrades and repair works on several major councilmanaged roads across Victoria’s south-westthrough round one of the Fixing Country Roads program.

The $100 million grants scheme is for rural and regional councils to undertake local road projects beyond regular road maintenance.

Locally, works include the Surf Coast Shire creating wider shoulders and a stronger road surface for Buckleys Road North to cater for increasing commercial traffic.

Strengthening works will also allow Colac Otway Road Bridge to continue to carry heavy agricultural and commercial vehicle traffic along with safety upgrades to the bridge’s guard rails.

The Colac Otway Shire will carry out much needed widening and sealing works on Binns Road in order to cater for increasing tourism traffic, as well heavy logging vehicles.

In the Golden Plains Shire, Teesdale-Lethbridge Road will be widened and drainage improvements set to boost safety for all road users.

In Warrnambool, 1.1 kilometres of Boiling Down Road will be rebuilt and widened between Gateway Road and Horne Road to better cater for two-way traffic, as well as sealing the road shoulders, new drainage and driveway entrances.

Warrnambool City Council also received funding to plan for an upgrade of Wollaston Road.

Corangamite Shire Council will widen Timboon-Curdievale Road, with the road’s width set to be increased from 3.6 to 6.6 metres to accommodate increased heavy vehicle traffic. A 325-metre section of Timboon’s Ford and Fells Road will also be sealed.

Moyne Shire will upgrade a major culvert on Glenthompson-Caramut Road and rebuild as new another 1.5 kilometres to enhance the strength, durability and longevity of the road.

“Since coming to office we’ve doubled spending on road maintenance to make sure that regional Victorians get the road works they need,” Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said.

“This investment will ensure council managed roads, like those across south-western Victoria, aren’t left behind as we roll out our record investment in country roads.”

Applications for round two of the Fixing Country Roads Program will open in early 2019.

For more information, head to regionalroads. vic.gov.au.