Works have commenced on a $20 million upgrade to the Western Highway – between Stawell and the South Australian border. Once completed, the upgrade will provide a safer and more reliable journey for all motorists.
According to Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce, the Western Highway is one of the State’s busiest highways and it is the main road link between Melbourne and Adelaide.
“The Western Highway serves as a key transport corridor through Victoria’s western district and upgrading this section of the highway will significantly improve safety for all users including farming, tourism and manufacturing interests,” Minister Joyce said.
State Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the works will help improve the reliability and safety on the section of the Western Highway between Stawell and the South Australian border.
“Drivers have already seen the benefits of the 55 kilometres of the highway that’s already been duplicated and we’ll continue to build a better Western Highway to support local communities and jobs throughout Western Victoria,” Mr Donnellan said.
Federal Member for Mallee Andrew Broad said that the upgrade – once completed – will significantly reduce the number of serious accidents on this section of the Western Highway.
“Between 2012 and 2017, there were 102 crashes on the Western Highway between Stawell and the South Australian border, including seven fatalities and 52 serious injuries, which demonstrates why these upgrades are a major priority for the Australian Government,” Mr Broad said.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments. Early works have already commenced, with major construction set to begin by mid-January 2018. The project is expected to be completed by 2020.
Just last week, it was announced that works on the Western Highway duplication between Buangor and Ararat is also set to restart this month.
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Source: Premier of Victoria