UPGRADES on the "dilapidated and dangerous" Princes Highway between Warrnambool and Port Fairy have finally been funded, but there's still no start date for when works will begin.
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The community lobbied the Victorian government for funding for 16 months after $60 million was committed by the federal government in the lead-up to the 2019 May election.
The 20 per cent contribution sought from the state government has been secured and details are expected to be announced in the coming days.
A state government spokeswoman said the contribution had been signed off by the Deputy Prime Minister's office.
"We look forward to working with the Deputy Prime Minister on finalising arrangements so we can begin works on this project," she said.
"The Victorian government's contribution will be delivered through 16 projects along the corridor."
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Projects include 11 bridge strengthening projects, overtaking lanes at Tyendarra, Yambuk and Terang, and asphalt surfacing in Terang and Camperdown.
Wannon MP Dan Tehan said the paperwork had been signed and it was now up to the state to start works.
"The money is unequivocally there, it is released and what we need is the state government to get going with the projects," Mr Tehan said.
"We said (to the Victorian government) rather than putting 20 per cent towards the highway upgrade between Warrnambool and Port Fairy they just have to commit to 20 per cent of Wannon roads in general, then we will provide our money to the Princes Highway.
"I've got to say it's disingenuous and unexplainable that they will not just get on with it given the state of the roads.
"I've spoken with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Victorian government just keeps coming back with excuse after excuse.
"We've agreed on the projects and they still haven't started on the very important bridge upgrades to start with; we wanted them to start on those immediately after the last election.
Princes Highway West Action Alliance spokesman Stephen Lucas said the money was "long overdue but welcome".
"We welcome the agreement between the state and federal government to commence these long awaited road works on the Princes Highway West," he said.
"We congratulate both the state and federal government for reaching an agreement to make the road more user friendly, safer and better for all road users.
"It's taken years, we certainly hope works will start soon but the difficulty is we are reaching the end of the road construction period, we will wait to see what Rural Roads Victoria will be proposing in terms of a timetable.
"We understand it will take some time to finish planning and drawing up contracts, and suspect the majority of works won't be undertaken until next Spring.
"In the end it's much better to have the works approved and planned and ready to go than waiting for the money.
"From an Alliance point of view we hope this agreement is the start of a much better relationship between the state and the Deputy Prime Minister's office so future funding arrangements between the federal and state are fast tracked and we don't have these long and irritating delays."
The federal government money includes $60 million for upgrades between Warrnambool and Port Fairy, $80 million for the Green Triangle area and funding that would see changes to the Blue Church intersection near Colac.
Liberal member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said the news was a win for community lobbying.
"The condition of the Princes Highway is one of the key issues in the electorate and I've been lobbying the Andrews Government to reach this agreement for the past two years," she said.
"I started a petition that attracted more than 8000 signatures from people right across the south-west calling for this funding. That petition was a very strong message to the government that people in our region have had enough of poor-quality roads.
"It was tabled in Parliament in November 2019 and I have used every opportunity I have since then to raise this matter in the chamber and with the Minister.
"This is a win for the people of the south-west who have been speaking about the highway with me and who's views I have conveyed to the state Labor government."
Ms Britnell said the state government now needed to publish timelines for the upgrade and get on and get the upgrade done.
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