Parks Victoria has just issued a statement saying it is introducing a number of initiatives to reduce congestion and boost visitor safety.

Speed limits will be reduced, roadside barriers and dual-language message boards erected as well as traffic control and additional parking arrangements between December 21 and January 6 and then on weekends throughout January.

A Parks Victoria spokesman said roadside barriers will be installed along the Great Ocean Road, from approximately 200 metres west of the Twelve Apostles visitor centre to 300 metres east of Gibson Steps, and 200 metres each side of the Loch Ard Gorge carpark entrance to prevent illegal roadside parking.

Speeds will be reduced to 40km/h at those locations.

Parks Victoria, Area Chief Ranger, Michael Smith said: "To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit over the Christmas period, we're implementing a traffic management plan and will have extra staff out-and-about in the national park."

"With many people expected along the Great Ocean Road and through the national park, we're asking visitors to observe speed limits, signage and traffic controllers - and most importantly, take care of themselves," he said.

"To get the most out of the trip, I encourage people to arrive early and then consider the other spectacular nearby attractions such as the Bay of Islands, Bay of Martyrs and London Bridge, and local townships like Port Campbell, Timboon and Cobden."

EARLIER: Traffic on parts of the Great Ocean Road may be on "rare occasions" reduced to 20km/h over the summer holidays, especially as Australia Day and the Chinese New Year coincide.

Parks Victoria has released a traffic management plan for the summer and will issue a press release on Monday.

A PV spokesman declined to comment when contacted on Friday.

However, barriers at specific tourist destinations will be erected from next weekend - Saturday, December 21- and remain in place until after Easter, between Friday, April 10, and Monday, April 13 next year.

Australia Day is Sunday, January 26, with the two weeks of the Chinese New Year kicking off on Saturday, January 25.

Visitor numbers along the Great Ocean Road have gradually increased in recent years but there's expected to be a significant spike during that weekend.

The speed limit along the Great Ocean Road will be reduced to 40km/h and according to Parks Victoria documents may in places and on "rare occasions" drop to 20km/h.

Barriers will be erected from Glenample to 200 metres west of the Twelve Apostles.

For the first time the entrance to Loch Ard Gorge will also have barriers.

There will also be private traffic control in place, generally between 11am to 5pm, from Saturday, December 21, to Monday, January 6, from Friday, January 24 to Sunday, February 9 and over Easter.

Police will also run a number of road safety operations over the summer period.

Corangamite Senior Sergeant Bill Caldow said Operation Roadwise started from midnight Thursday this week and would run through until January 5.

He said the focus for the operation would be speed, fatigue, impaired driving, distraction and seat-belt offences.

"The aim is to provide a highly visible police presence, reinforce positive driving behaviours and lessen incidents of road trauma using all available police resources," he said.

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