The Victorian Government is launching a $675 million maintenance operation targeting the state’s crumbling regional roads.
The major initiative began Monday and will run for nine months, focusing on fixing potholes, reconstructing and resurfacing roads.
Key projects include work on major roads such as the Hume Freeway, Princes Highway, Surf Coast Highway, Western Highway and Goulburn Valley Highway, as well as roads such as Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd, Terang-Mortlake Rd and Mornington-Flinders Rd.
In total, the Government has committed $964 million to this effort, with about 70% of it earmarked for regional Victoria.
Roads Minister Melissa Horne highlighted the importance of this investment, stating: “We are investing almost a billion dollars to rebuild and repair the roads that Victorians depend on every day.”
The plan includes improvements to bridges, traffic lights, signage and other road infrastructure. Horne noted that crews will complete approximately $2.6 million worth of work every day throughout the year.
The Allan administration attributed the deteriorating road conditions to major flooding since October 2022, with crews currently filling nearly 700 potholes every day. However, funding for road reconstruction has been cut significantly, from $201.4 million last year to just $37.6 million this year, reducing reconstruction efforts by up to two-thirds.
The opposition’s shadow Minister of Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, criticised the government for its handling of the road maintenance crisis, citing cuts to the Road Safety Fund and toll increases. He expressed concern that the government does not intend to install new barricades or tactile striping this year, despite the fact that damaged barricades remain unrepaired.
According to the latest RACV survey, 64% of respondents identified potholes and poor road conditions as their main concern for road safety, surpassing dangerous driver behaviour. Many respondents also supported lowering speed limits on dangerous roads, indicating a strong desire for improved road safety measures.
