#FixVicRoads: ‘Dilapidated’ safety barriers on Victorian thoroughfares putting drivers lives at risk, motorists warn

People from across the state have joined the Herald Sun’s push to #FixVicRoads, warning “mangled” safety barriers on major thoroughfares could be contributing to the state’s road toll.

Drivers are warning that safety barriers on major thoroughfares across the state are damaged and in disrepair and fear they could be contributing to the state’s road toll.

People from across the state have contacted the Herald Sun after the launch of the #FixVicRoads campaign, warning that damaged barriers were not being fixed.

George Sandel from Geelong said some barriers on the iconic Great Ocean Road had been left “mangled” for some time.

“Some of them have been like that for months, and it’s concerning because it’s a known dangerous road,” he said.

Safety barriers on the Great Ocean Road have been left ‘mangled’ according to commuter George Sandel.

Darryl Beitzel from Officer drives the Hume Highway at least six times a year and says, “none of it ever seems to get repaired,” especially in the high speed zones of 110km/h.

“There are parts of the safety barriers which have been damaged and are just left for months. There are cables that are old and loose. It’s all just dilapidated,” he said.

Drivers say cables are coming loose on barriers along major thoroughfares in Victoria, including the Hume Hwy. Picture: Grace Frost

Exit ramps were especially in disrepair, and Mr Beitzel said it was putting lives at risk. “People will just run off the road and hit a tree,” he told the Herald Sun.

In 2020, the Victorian Auditor-General found that the state’s planning and installation program for safety barriers was “insufficient.”

It found VicRoads records made it difficult to glean how effective the barriers have been at saving lives.

Government insiders warned that rope barriers and hard metal barriers had since fallen out of favour, and maintenance money was being diverted to potholes, grass cutting, and signage.

Drivers also reported issues on the Calder Freeway and Western Highway.

Safety barriers have been installed in Victoria for more than 30 years. Since 1 July 2024, crews for the Department of Transport and Planning have carried out repairs on 2848 safety barriers and spot repairs on more than 82,885m of damaged barriers.

A DoTP spokesperson said more works were being carried out in the coming months.

“We have a number of works planned across the Western Freeway, Calder Highway, and Hume Highway over the coming months, which will boost safety for motorists,” they said.

“We repair safety barriers across the state as quickly and as safely as possible, ensuring works are planned in a way that keeps drivers and road workers safe.”

Repairs to safety barriers and guard rails on the Western Freeway will start in the next few weeks and are expected to be completed by the end of July.

Teams will be fixing safety barriers along the Calder Highway from mid-July to early August.

On the Hume Highway, crews will work on repairing safety barriers between Seymour and Wandong in July, and then between Wallan and Beveridge in August.

So far this year 144 people have died on Victoria’s roads, up 9 per cent compared to last year.

The majority of are on rural roads.

Originally published as #FixVicRoads: ‘Dilapidated’ safety barriers on Victorian thoroughfares putting drivers lives at risk, motorists warn