Thursday, 13 April 2017

The Latrobe Valley community will be able to walk and ride more safely between Morwell and Traralgon with the announcement of a new shared path.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said the ten kilometre path will connect the Latrobe Valley’s two largest regional centres and provide a link to Latrobe Regional Hospital and the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail.

There are currently no paths linking Morwell and Traralgon, forcing cyclists and walkers onto high-speed, high-traffic roads.

In the past nine years, five cyclists have sustained permanent, life-altering injuries from crashes within the vicinity of the three main roads connecting Morwell and Traralgon.
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That’s why the Andrews Labor Government is getting on with this new $2.95 million shared path – boosting safety for locals and visitors by separating pedestrian and cyclists from vehicles, after Russell Northe failed to secure this funding during the Victorian Coalition’s last term in office.

Unlike the Federal  Coalition Government’s contribution, which is funded from its $43 million allocation to Latrobe Valley transition, the Victorian component of this funding does not come from our $266 million transition fund but is funded under the Labor Government’s $100 million Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund, which is building modern infrastructure to keep cyclists and pedestrians safe.

The new path will be built on the existing road reserve along Old Melbourne Road before joining up with Crinigan Road.

Construction is expected to begin by mid-2017 and completed by mid-2018.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“This investment is particularly important because locals told us that they avoided walking or cycling between the towns because they felt unsafe – we’re providing $2.95 million towards this new connection, which unlike the federal Coalition Government’s contribution, does not come out of Latrobe Valley transition funding.”
 
“We’re delighted to have worked closely with the Latrobe Valley community and Latrobe City Council to fund this vital project from our Safer Cyclists and Pedestrians Fund, while we continue the unprecedented transition investment that the Victorian Labor Government is making in this region.”

Photo courtesy of Latrobe Valley Express