Central Gippsland and Latrobe Valley roads will benefit from a $3.6 million road safety and efficiency boost, Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas, announced today.
Mr Pallas said the Brumby Government was taking action to improve roads in communities across regional Victoria as he inspected the recently completed pedestrian signals opposite Morwell’s Mid Valley Shopping Centre.
“The $480,000 project on Morwell-Traralgon Road will improve safety and access for the large number of pedestrians going to and from the shopping centre,” Mr Pallas said.
“Roads are an important part of Victoria’s economic and social development – connecting our towns and regional centres, ensuring efficient freight movement and creating jobs.
“A range of projects will be delivered to make our roads safer for communities across the state.
“In addition, we are delivering projects from the Safer Road Infrastructure Program, funded by the Traffic Accident Commission, for safety improvements on country and outer metropolitan roads.”
Projects in central Gippsland and Latrobe Valley include:
• $2.4 million for safety improvements on Morwell-Thorpdale Road between the Strzelecki Highway and Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road;
• $516,000 for improvements to Willowgrove Road;
• $273,000 for pavement rehabilitation works on Mirboo North-Trafalgar Road;
• $293,000 for bridge rehabilitation works on Main Neerim Road over the Tarago River; and
• $171,000 for pavement rehabilitation works on Loy Yang-Morwell Road.
Mr Pallas said the Morwell-Thorpdale Road safety upgrade would involve installing guard fencing and wire rope safety barriers, improving signage and line marking as well as tree removal and relocating power poles that pose a hazard to motorists.
"The Morwell-Thorpdale Road safety upgrade would involve installing guard fencing and wire rope safety barriers.'
“The Morwell-Thorpdale Road is an important link between Thorpdale and the Strzelecki Highway carrying approximately 500 vehicles each day,” he said.
“This upgrade, expected to commence in early 2009, will significantly reduce the risk and severity of run off road crashes along this stretch of the Morwell-Thorpdale Road.“
This road has had ten run off road crashes, two of which were fatal, in the six years to December 2007.
Member for Eastern Victoria, Matt Viney, said the Brumby Government was delivering improved transport links to enhance tourism, make freight operations more efficient and deliver a better transport system for all Victorians.