Goulburn Valley Highway gets $18.5m road safety upgrade between Molesworth to Yea
The Victorian Government has invested $18.5 million to upgrade the Goulburn Valley Highway between Molesworth and Yea in north-east Victoria to help save regional motorists lives on one of Victoria’s most notorious sections of road.
Infrastructure solution to address the high number of fatalities and safety concerns
There have been a number of tragic accidents on this 10km stretch of road in the past five years, including eight fatalities and 13 people seriously injured. The majority of crashes were caused by vehicles crossing the centre-line or running off the road. Interim safety treatments have been in place since April 2015, including reduction of the speed limit from 100 km/h to 80 km/h, "High Crash Zone" warning signs and a tactile centre line along the length of section of the road.
The success of these measures have encouraged the Victorian Government to implement long term safety treatments that will prevent head-on crashes and reduce the severity of the impact on the vehicle when a mistake is made.
Image Credit: Google Maps of Molesworth to Yea Victoria.Goulburn Valley Highway upgrade to deliver long term safety treatments
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the allocation of $18 million towards the road upgrade came as part of a $1 billion Safe System Road Infrastructure Program being rolled out to fix problematic roads over 10 years.
Safety Barriers
A centre-line wire rope safety barrier will be constructed between the church entrance at Molesworth and Limestone Road, Yea. The centre-line wire rope safety barrier will have approximately 20 openings, to cater for property access and emergency services. These openings are typically 40 metres wide or greater to allow for turning trucks into properties. A left-hand side barrier will be installed at high risk locations to protect motorists from trees and steep drop-offs. All barriers will be installed with motorcycle-friendly treatments in areas of high likelihood of losing control.
Image Credit: Transport Accident Commission.The centre-line barrier is designed to prevent head-on crashes or vehicles running off the road to the right.
Road Widening
Single lanes measuring between 10.5 metres to 12.5 metres wide will be widened and the shoulders of the road reconstructed. It is expected widening will occur on one side of the road only where possible.
Additional overtaking lanes
There are currently two overtaking lanes between Molesworth and Yea. The overtaking lane at Cotton’s Pinch will be extended towards Whytes Lane. The overtaking lane at Yea will swap in direction. An additional overtaking lane will be constructed between the existing overtaking lanes for those for vehicles travelling towards Molesworth.
Another overtaking lane is planned on the river flats next to the power poles coming into Molesworth to eliminate the sporadic overtaking which currently takes place.
Variable message signs
VicRoads have planned to construct a crossing across the Native Dog Creek on the old highway alignment to provide properties access via Native Dog Road, as opposed to current access on the straight out of Molesworth. The w idening options for the bridge would allow for seven metres between the centre line barrier and edge barriers.
Image Credit: Great Victorian Rail Trails - Molesworth Victoria Township
Construction timeline for Goulburn Valley Highway - Molesworth to Yea
Construction will start in mid April 2016. The project will be constructed in sections starting from Yea and working towards Molesworth. If you're looking for plant hire suppliers local to the Goulburn Valley Highway, check out these shortcuts to the supplier directory:
- Molesworth, Victoria plant hire suppliers
- Yea, Victoria plant hire suppliers
- Road signage safety hire
- Loader hire
- Dozer hire
- Grader hire
- Scraper hire
- Paver hire
- Compactor hire
- Tower Crane hire
- Truck / Hiab Crane hire
- Articulated Dump Truck hire
- Tipper Truck hire
- Water truck hire
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