A $40 million upgrade program will see roads across south-west Victoria’s Green Triangle region become safer for all drivers, with overall works expected to be completed in 2021.
Work is underway on the Portland Ring Road, Henty Highway, Portland-Nelson Road and Portland-Casterton Road to improve safety and access to the Port of Portland.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the Green Triangle Road Upgrade was focused on improving safety and productivity, particularly for heavy vehicles.
The Australian and Victorian governments are each contributing $20 million to the jointly funded project. Construction will take place over the next three years, with significant work already underway.
“An extensive program of major rehabilitation and resurfacing is now underway, to ensure roads in the region are safe and able to handle high volumes of heavy vehicles serving the Port of Portland,” Mr Chester said.
“The Green Triangle Road Upgrade is focused on improving safety and productivity, particularly for heavy vehicles.
“These roads are an essential part of the local economy because heavy vehicles rely on them to get to the Port of Portland everyday—the largest hardwood chip exporter in the world.”
Victorian Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan welcomed the start of works this week to fix and resurface 31km of the Portland—Casterton Road which will be completed by the end of May 2017.
“We’re working to make these roads safer and more reliable, and ensure our local producers can move their goods as safely and efficiently as possible in the Green Triangle region,” Mr Donnellan said.
“We’re upgrading a number of unsafe and deteriorating roads across South Western Victoria will be fixed, benefitting the local community, freight vehicles and tourist traffic.”
Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said work on the Portland Ring Road near the Port of Portland will be completed in the first week of April 2017 and with the complete rehabilitation and resurfacing of 500 metres of the Ring Road, including the Wilson St—Nelson St intersection will be completed by Easter 2017.
“These roads are a vital part of our local economy, particularly in moving 7.5 million tonnes of woodchips out of the Port of Portland every year,” Mr Tehan said.
“These road repairs will support business, by reducing significant maintenance costs particularly for heavy vehicle and bus operators.”
Victorian Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney also welcomed the ongoing works to repair 3.4km of the Henty/Princes Highway, Bolwarra will be completed in April 2017.
“Thirty per cent of the traffic on the Portland Ring Road is heavy vehicles, these repairs will improve safety for everyone and make sure cars and trucks can get where they need to be, safely and on time,” Ms Tierney said.
“We’re putting the south west first by fixing these roads and making sure we support the local economy to keep delivering for Victoria.”
