Sections of the Hamilton Highway are being completely rebuilt while resurfacing projects are soon to be delivered on the Hopkins Highway as part of a $42 million investment into south-west roads.
In response to questions from The Standard, a state government spokesperson revealed about 170 kilometres of roads across the region were being rebuilt, repaired and resurfaced as part of their regional road maintenance blitz.
Works include rebuilding five individual sections of the Hamilton Highway completely, totaling close to seven kilometres at the cost of more than $5 million.
Construction is already underway on sections of the highway at Penshurst and Caramut and are expected to be completed in early 2022.
The spokesperson said works on sections of the highway at Darlington, Berrybank and Lismore were set to be delivered between now and July 2022.
The Darlington section has been subject to speed restrictions and multiple patching jobs in recent years but potholes and deep channels reappear.
A further 14 kilometres of highway is also tipped to undergo asphalting works to make them smoother, safer and last last longer.
On the Hopkins highway, five individual resurfacing projects will be delivered this maintenance season, representing an investment of about $300,000.
Other roads across the region set to undergo rebuilding works include the Glenelg Highway and Lismore-Scarsdale Road.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The government spokesperson said more than 160 individual road maintenance projects in south-west Victoria would be carried out between now and July.
"Right across the south-west, we have crews out rebuilding and repairing roads, including more than 160 individual road maintenance projects between now and July," they said.
"This includes major rebuilding works currently underway on the Hamilton Highway. We know regional roads are the lifeblood of our communities."
It comes as member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said there was no clear plan to improve and maintain the crumbling road system in regional Victoria.
"Our rural roads continue to deteriorate while this government's approach is to fix our roads pothole by pothole, just making things worse," she said.
"Roads in the South West Coast have been deteriorating for years despite constant representations to the minister - both in and outside of parliament - but there just is not a consistent strategy from this government to actually invest wisely and fix the problem."
Now just one tap with our new app: Digital subscribers now have the convenience of faster news, right at your fingertips with The Standard:
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.standard.net.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines and newsletters
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
- Tap here to open our Google News page.
- Join our Courts and Crime Facebook group and our dedicated Sport Facebook group
- Subscribe
