Wednesday, 13 March 2019

It is now safer to travel between Longwarry and Traralgon on the Princes Highway, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford was in Traralgon today to announce the completion of work to install more than 170 kilometres of lifesaving safety barriers.

This $27 million investment from the Labor Government will ensure the Princes Highway is safer for the thousands of people travelling on it every single day.

From 2010-2015, three people lost their lives and 70 were seriously injured on this stretch of the highway.

Flexible safety barriers have now been installed on the side of the road to prevent vehicles from running into roadside hazards like trees and poles, and along the centre median to prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic.

The barriers work by stretching and absorbing the force of a crash and are proven to prevent head-on and runoff-road collisions –the biggest cause of fatalities on Gippsland roads.

Since works began in November 2016, barriers on the Princes Highway between Longwarry and Traralgon have been hit more than 300 times.

A further $51.5 million package of safety upgrades is also being delivered on the Princes Highway between Sale and Bairnsdale – providing a safer journey across the western half of the Gippsland region.

The safety improvements are being delivered in partnership between the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Regional Roads Victoria (RRV), as part of the Government’s $1.4 billion Towards Zero Action Plan.

This plan aims to reduce the number of lives lost on Victorian roads to 200 or fewer and serious injuries by 15 per cent by 2020.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Jaala Pulford

“The Princes Highway between Longwarry and Traralgon was one of the highest risk roads in the state, but people are now experiencing a much safer journey thanks to these new safety barriers.”

“Everybody makes mistakes on our roads. We’re building a more forgiving network so that people don’t lose their lives because of it.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

“Around 30,000 vehicles travel on this section of the Princes Highway every day – it’s a vital connection to Gippsland’s communities, industries and tourist destinations, which is exactly why we’ve made it safer.”