One of Victoria’s most important freight connections, the Sunraysia Highway, is set for reinforcement as part of the state government’s $964 million summer road maintenance blitz.
The Sunraysia Highway in Lascelles is one of the state’s key links of grain and produce farms to key domestic and international markets. Works to repair a one-kilometre section of road on the key thoroughfare will commence in early November and run until close to the new year.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to the ATN newsletter
The project will completely rebuild the section of road in order to remove any potential sub-surface issues and ensure the road remains strong and productive for as long as possible.
This road rebuild is one of a number of projects set to be undertaken over summer across the entire state, with the sunnier summer conditions perfect for ensuring road works can progress at as fast a pace as possible.
“We know how crucial the Sunraysia Highway is to the people and economy of northern Victoria,” Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne says.
“By making sure key freight connections like the Sunraysia are up to scratch we’re helping to keep goods on the move, supporting thousands of jobs and driving our state’s economy forward.”
Victoria’s freight industry contributes $36 billion to the state’s economy each year and supports over 260,000 people across all levels of the supply chain.
Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes says a strong Sunraysia will help keep a strong grain and produce industry in the region.
“The road works along the Sunraysia Highway will ensure our leading grain and produce can reach the world for many years to come.”
The $964 million committed to road works over the next nine months is the largest single-year spend on road maintenance in Victoria’s history.
It has come after extensive discontent regarding the state of Victoria’s regional, rural and remote roads. A recent RACV ‘My Country Road’ survey indicated road quality was deemed the biggest threat to driver safety in the regions.
64 per cent of 7000 individuals assessed for the survey deemed road quality and potholes as one of the biggest threats to safety, up from 46 per cent in 2021.
60 per cent of those surveyed believed fixing the quality of roads was the greatest potential improvement that could be made to driving outcomes.
Read more ATN:
Wilman Wadandi Highway opening date confirmed
Rex subsidiary sale finalised
19th Australian TRP store opens in Far North Queensland