The government had previously said it would use a Princes Highway Corridor Strategy, released this week, to make a call on how it would use $60 million in federal funding for the highway between Warrnambool and Port Fairy.

But the state government and VicRoads refused to answer specific questions this week on what plans it had for the stretch of road.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan declined an interview with The Standard about the project.

Instead, a spokesman said the state government was "continuing to invest in projects that make the Princes Highway stronger, smoother and safer for locals, freight operators and producers that rely on it every day".

The government pointed to the near-complete Princes Highway duplication between Winchelsea and Colac, and planned or under way works near Garvoc and Terang, west of Port Fairy and between Portland and South Australia.

Wannon MP Dan Tehan said the funding was in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 budget papers funded under Roads of Strategic Importance and the Princes Highway allocation.

"I've made it very clear to the state government that we're very happy to front-load our commitment of money, but so far I'm yet to get any positive response which says 'that is a wonderful offer, we're going to get to work straight away'," Mr Tehan said.

The Warrnambool City and Moyne Shire councils last month unveiled a plan to duplicate a four-kilometre stretch of the highway between Illowa and the Southern Cross roads.

The Princes Highway Corridor Strategy summary does not directly refer to a need for "increased overtaking opportunities" between Warrnambool and Port Fairy.

But a federal Department of Infrastructure spokeswoman said the locations outlined in the report were "not an exhaustive list".

"While the strategy will inform government investment, it does not preclude other projects along the Corridor if identified as a priority through the further planning works," she said.

The spokeswoman said works in the strategy's priorities would be "delivered as a rolling program over coming years, with timings to be determined through the more detailed planning phase".

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said the state government was "out of excuses".

"The money is there, the strategy is now there, the only thing missing is the interest of Daniel Andrews and Labor," she said.

She said she planned to table her petition with 8000 signatures calling for upgrades to south-west roads.

"It is evidence we have had enough," Ms Britnell said.

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