The Andrews Labor Government will spend $135.6 million over the next year to repair unsafe and deteriorating roads across Victoria.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan today visited the South Gippsland Highway at Ruby to welcome an extra $80 million investment for road resurfacing under the Road Surface Replacement Program.

Under the program, Victoria’s eastern region will receive a $10.4 million boost this year, which will see resealing repair works undertaken on more than 130 sites across key roads, including the South Gippsland Highway, Bass Highway and Great Alpine Road.

Hundreds of additional sites across regional Victoria will also be resealed, including $11.6 million for 130 sites across northern Victoria, $11.4 million for 300 sites across north eastern Victoria, $12.6 million for 120 sites across western Victoria and $14.2 million for 160 sites across south western Victoria. Metropolitan Melbourne will receive $19.8 million in resealing projects.

In addition, $55.6 million will be invested across Victoria to deliver more significant road rehabilitation projects on key arterial routes including the South Gippsland Highway at Ruby, the Great Ocean Road, and Hamilton Highway at Penshurst.

The program of works, which will be carried out during the summer period, includes a variety of road structure and surface repairs to allow the roads to continue to operate safely.

The works will reduce the level of deterioration of road surfaces and will support local primary producers to get their products to the market or to the factory as well as support local residents as they travel to work and school.

These road improvements will not only create smoother and safer roads for all motorists but it will also help to preserve the longevity of the roads.

While interim measures such as asphalt patching works over the winter period will ensure roads can continue to operate safely in the short-term, the projects under the Road Surface Replacement Program and rehabilitation works will ensure their ongoing, safe operation into the future. Work on the projects is due to start later this year.

The Government also recently announced $35.8 million to strengthen bridges in regional Victoria and $50 million for the Safer Country Crossings Program.

This commitment recognises that local communities and industry need to be better supported, and we will continue to work with local councils to identify their infrastructure needs.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan

“The Andrews Labor Government has made an unprecedented investment in improving safety on regional roads and that’s why we are spending $1 billion to upgrade unsafe and congested roads and level crossings in regional communities.”

“The Liberal and National Parties have been long on talk and short on action and the Labor Government is delivering for regional communities in our first Budget.”

Quotes attributable to the Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“The Andrews Labor Government is investing in regional communities and these works will enable improvements to key arterial roads to support freight vehicles and tourist traffic throughout regional Victoria.”

“Improving the condition of key regional arterial roads will benefit the thousands of drivers who travel on them each day.”

Quotes attributable to the Member for Eastern Victoria Daniel Mulino

“This funding will mean that a number of unsafe and deteriorating roads across Eastern Victoria will benefit the local community, freight vehicles and tourist traffic.”

“These roads are not only key roads for locals, but they are the gateway to a number of regional areas that are used regularly by visitors, so we want to make sure they are as safe as possible for everyone.”