Thursday 15 December 2016

Upgrade works will be undertaken on three major Gippsland Highways, making them safer and more reliable for all road users.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced a $35 million funding boost by the Andrews Labor Government to upgrade parts of the Princes Highway East, the Monaro Highway and the Hyland Highway.

A $25 million investment will see upgrades along 300 kilometres of Princes Highway East, between east of Sale and the New South Wales border.

Upgrading the major freight corridor between Victoria and New South Wales will support the regions tourism, dairy, timber, agriculture, seafood and freight industries.

A $5 million boost from the Labor Government to the Monaro Highway will see upgrades between Cann River and the New South Wales border.

The works will safeguard the corridor for local businesses and producers that carries approximately 200,000 tonnes of freight including livestock, horticulture, timber and general freight each year.

In addition, the Government is investing $5 million for safety improvements along 64 kilometres of the Hyland Highway between Traralgon and Alberton, a vital north-south corridor that local industries rely on.

The upgrades will focus on installing safety barriers at high risk locations, sealing road shoulders, new slow vehicles pull-over areas, and pavement restoration in high freight areas.

The final scope of the works will be finalised through consultation with the community and industry.

This $70 million package of works is joint-funded between the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments as part of the Victorian Infrastructure Package.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriett Shing:

“We’re working to make these roads which people rely on every day safer and more reliable – and these upgrades will do just that for Gippsland communities.”

“These works will hopefully save lives and reduce the risk of serious injuries, and create a more reliable road network for Gippslanders, industry and visitors.”