Goulburn Valley: Murchison-Tatura Road labelled one of the state’s worst
A transport company owner says an important Goulburn Valley freight link is so bad he sends drivers via Shepparton.
Victoria
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Heavy trucks transporting agricultural produce to the Port of Melbourne are being diverted through the centre of Shepparton due to the poor state of a key Goulburn Valley road west of the city.
Mooroopna-based freight company Valley Pack’s general manager Taylor Hall said the Murchison-Tatura Road had deteriorated and “an extra 40 truck loads a day” were driving into Shepparton before heading south to Melbourne.
“All of the western Goulburn region’s produce from Mooroopna to Echuca, every abattoir, cheese factory, you name it, goes along that road,” Mr Hall said.
“It is a busy road.
“But it’s by far the worst, in terms of freight task, in the area and has been for a long time.
“It’s full of potholes, and has got no shoulders.”
Issues with the Murchison-Tatura Road, which is the responsibility of the Victoria government, predate major floods in the Goulburn Valley with $1.1 million spent on it last year as part of a statewide regional road maintenance blitz.
“It’s been in bad shape for many years,” Mr Hall said.
“This road isn’t impacted by the floods, but is just in bad shape and really dangerous to drive on.
“The wet weather has just exacerbated things.
“By having to detour we’re being forced to damage other roads which impacts the broader community.”
Greater Shepparton Council is still assessing the impact of floods on its own road network of 2400km of sealed and unsealed roads.
“Council is working with Regional Roads Victoria to assess the condition of its road network to understand the extent of the damage caused by the floods,” a council spokeswoman said.
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Originally published as Goulburn Valley: Murchison-Tatura Road labelled one of the state’s worst
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