The Andrews Labor Government is investing in road safety with key industry routes to be boosted with the construction of two new roundabouts in the Latrobe Valley.

Harriet Shing MP, the Member for Eastern Victoria Region welcomed the $6 million investment to upgrade the intersections of Traralgon West Road/Maryvale Road/Old Melbourne Road and Hyland Highway and Loy Yang-Morwell Road.

A new $3.2 million roundabout will be built at the Traralgon West Road/Maryvale Road/Old Melbourne Road intersection and other minor improvements made to the nearby intersection of Old Melbourne Road and Maryvale Road.

Motorists struggle to navigate the current intersections, with six serious injury crashes, including one fatal crash in the area in the last five years.

The upgrade will provide a safer route for workers accessing the nearby Australian Paper Mill and Gippsland Water Factory and for locals travelling between Traralgon and Morwell. It will also increase efficiency and lower operating costs for businesses.

The Government will also invest a further $2.8 million in another single-lane roundabout will be built to replace the existing T-intersection of Hyland Highway and Loy Yang-Morwell Road (Mattingley Hill Road).

The roundabout will provide a safer intersection for the 7400 vehicles, including 1500 trucks, which use the Hyland Highway and Loy Yang-Morwell Road each day. The roads also provide transport links to the Loy Yang Power Station and the towns of Traralgon, Yarram and Morwell.

The upgrade will also include the construction of a new off-road bicycle path to cater for the high percentage of workers who cycle to Loy Yang Power Station.

Both roundabout upgrades will involve improvements to the approaches, new pavements, signage and street lighting.

The Safe System Road Infrastructure Program is funded by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and is targeted to areas where projects can have a specific and immediate safety benefit.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing MP:

“The Andrews Labor Government is ensuring that these two new roundabouts will provide safer links to Latrobe Valley’s major industrial sites including Loy Yang mine and power stations, the Australian Paper Mill and Gippsland Water Factory.”

“This will improve safety for workers and heavy vehicles travelling to and from these sites, along with local traffic between nearby towns.”

“These intersection upgrades will also boost efficiency for local industry and businesses by providing a safer, more reliable route.”