Next stage of works on Western Hwy Upgrade to get underway this year

Upgrades to the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat will begin before the year ends, following the commitment of additional funding from the Australian and Victorian Governments.

The extra funding is included in the 2026/27 State and Federal Budgets. The Albanese Labor Government has committed an additional $372.5 million while the Allan Labor Government invests a further $73.5 million, bringing the total joint contribution to $1.17 billion.

The Western Highway is one of Australia’s busiest national undivided highways, and it is a critical freight and tourism route for western Victoria.

To date, more than 55 kilometres of the highway has already been duplicated between Ballarat and Buangor as part of the broader Western Highway Corridor program.

“These upgrades between Buangor and Ararat have been a long time coming, but this additional funding will ensure that they will be delivered.

“We are committed to making this section of highway safe, efficient and importantly, double laned, and the Albanese Government is now investing over $970 million to make it happen.

“The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are working together to make this notorious section of road safer for people who live here, tourists passing through and freight operators,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said.

“As a major transport corridor between Melbourne and Adelaide, the Western Highway upgrade will make travel safer while boosting productivity across Wannon in western Victoria.

“Through this additional $372.5 million investment, the Albanese Government is supporting regional connectivity and economic growth,” Senator for Victoria Raff Ciccone said.

Project map (source: Victoria's Big Build)

The next stage of works – Section 2B – will duplicate 12 kilometres of highway between Buangor and Ararat. This project will add an extra lane in each direction to help improve safety and reliability, with its design recently updated to make the road safer and more efficient.

The updated design will also reduce impacts on the environment, and it meets the latest road safety and design standards.

The upgrade between Buangor and Ararat will include:

• Adding an extra lane in each direction to provide safer overtaking opportunities and improve journey reliability

• Adding a centre median that will separate carriageways, reducing the likelihood of vehicles accidentally veering into ongoing traffic

• Installing barriers to reduce the risk of head-on collisions

• Building a new interchange at Hillside Road to make it easier and safer for vehicles to enter and exit the Western Highway

• Building new bridges over the railway line and the Hopkins River

Construction is expected to commence before the end of this year, subject to final approvals including from the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The project’s construction partners will finalise plans and timelines over the coming months.

Last year, interim safety measures were installed on the Western Highway including reduced speed limits and improved signage to help reduce the risk as well as severity of serious incidents while planning works progress.

The Western Highway Upgrade has undergone a rigorous planning process over several years, including a full independent Environment Effects Statement process.

All works are expected to be completed by mid-2029.

“This is a vital safety upgrade for western Victoria, and we’ve worked through the necessary planning and design stages so construction can commence before the end of the year,” VIC Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams said.

“This upgrade is the number one priority for Ararat locals who want to see their Western highway made safer and easier to travel on.

“It is great to have a partner in Canberra who is prioritising this project and helping us get construction restarted this year. The upgrade will save lives and make our rural communities better and safer to live in,” State Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said.

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria’s Big Build – Big Build Roads (1, 2)