CORANGAMITE Shire council says it’s time for a plan for the Princes Highway.
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Council voted to help develop a corridor strategy for the highway west of Colac to the South Australian border.
Councillor Neil Trotter moved the motion on Tuesday night and said he had recently seen the benefits of a 2+1 road configuration between Bordertown and Murray Bridge in South Australia.
“It has heavy volumes of traffic...with B-doubles and very large trucks,” he said.
“Having that knowledge that every five kilometres there’s a passing lane… it just makes it a much easier, much safer and much less stressful trip. The traffic is prepared to sit behind the truck if they know in a few kilometres they can pass and pass safely.”
He said the configuration was a far cheaper alternative to a dual lane highway and it could move huge volumes of traffic very quickly. The 2+1 configuration involves two lanes in one direction and one lane in the opposite direction. The configuration is altered every few kilometres to allow regular overtaking opportunities.
A report presented to council noted that the stretch of highway was an important thoroughfare for the Great South Coast region which produced a third of the state’s beef, dairy, lamb and a quarter of its wool. “The vast majority of this produce worth more than $1.8 billion is bound for markets further afield, mostly international, and relies on the Princes Highway to access ports and markets,” the report noted.
“While the traffic on the highway has grown in volume in recent years, the highway infrastructure west of Colac has received on minor upgrades. Over the past five years there have been nine fatalities, 80 serious injuries and 141 other injuries.”