Fears grow as Victoria’s crumbling highways ‘get worse by the week’

SPEED limits are being slashed as low as 60kmh on major roads as VicRoads struggles to maintain the state’s deteriorating highway network.

• $5.5bn distributor toll road under threat
• Victorian speeders set for fee hike
• Melbourne’s top speed cams rake it in
• Land swap plan a developing idea

SPEED limits are being slashed as low as 60kmh on major roads as VicRoads struggles to maintain the state’s deteriorating highway network.

The Herald Sun can reveal speeds have been dropped in dozens of locations because of ­unsafe road conditions.

The move was slammed by drivers and councils who fear the state government and ­VicRoads are rolling out new speed zones to avoid fixing potholes and crumbling roads.

In some areas, permanent signs have been installed.

Bus operator Des Trotter, who runs V/Line and school services between Portland and Ballarat, said drivers and passengers, including schoolchildren, were at risk.

“If we don’t do anything, the roads will just crumble and how many 80kmh or 60kmh zones can you have?’’ he said.

“It is just very dangerous and maintenance on the vehicles is skyrocketing (the road) is causing so much damage to our front end and our tyres.”

Drivers in the state’s southwest are among the worst affected — temporary zones on the Glenelg and Henty highways have been in place for months. RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones said VicRoads regularly reduced speed “if they do not have the funding available to fix it’’.

An RACV Budget submission said a decade of low funding had left roads in a dire state and called for a $1.2 billion restoration package.

A VicRoads spokeswoman said weather played a factor in the cuts. “We always prioritise this work, however it is not possible to undertake more significant works during the wet winter months,” she said.

“We undertake regular maintenance and road hazard inspections until more comprehensive works can be completed weather permitting.”

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan denied under-funding ­allegations, saying more than $300 million was spent on roads since the 2014 election.

Opposition roads spokesman Ryan Smith said funding had been cut.

“Country Victorians are sick and tired of driving on roads that are getting worse by the week,’’ he said.