Victorian roads are crumbling and experts warn lives are at risk

EXPECT the death toll to rise on Victoria’s roads, experts warn, after an alarming report reveals half of the state’s routes will be in very poor condition by 2025.

Roads in Victoria’s southwest are among the worst, mainly due to the growing number of trucks. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

• Victoria’s road toll jumps significantly
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EXPECT more deaths on Victorian roads, experts warn, after an alarming report reveals half the state’s routes will be in very poor condition by 2025.

Auditor-General Andrew Greaves says a lack of funding and misjudged maintenance programs by VicRoads are driving the state’s roads to ruin.

He warned the trend would lead to an increased risk to the public, especially in the state’s southwest.

“The proportion of roads in very poor condition is increasing in all regions,” Mr Greaves said.

“The state road network in very poor condition presents a growing risk to public safety and increases road-user costs.’’

RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones warns some Victorian roads are crumbling. Picture: Andrew Batsch

The Herald Sun revealed in March that speed limits were being slashed as low as 60km/h on major roads across the state as VicRoads struggles to maintain the network.

RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones said there had already been increasing reports of vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid dangerous road damage.

“Trucks crossing double white lines to avoid defects. There could be serious injuries or deaths, if we don’t maintain the network,’’ Mr Jones said.

He renewed calls for a $1.2 billion emergency package to save the state’s worst roads.

Roads in the state’s southwest are among the worst, mainly due to the increased number of trucks travelling these routes.

By 2025, 50 per cent of Victorian roads will be in very poor condition. Picture: Chloe Smith

However, roads throughout the west and east are also showing strain, along with inner-city and suburban roads, and pavements.

The Coroner is reviewing a series of cases where road conditions are being investigated as a cause of death.

In one case, a Victorian couple on a weekend road trip were killed when their motobike hit a dangerous road defect, which had been overlooked by VicRoads.

Ringwood father-of-three Mark Rodgers, 47, and partner Jodi Andrews, 42, died when their bike suddenly veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a police car, on March 7, 2015.

Mr Greaves said risks to public safety were on the rise and revealed the main issue was funding was not keeping pace with the increased costs of road maintenance.

“VicRoads also cannot demonstrate clearly that it is making the best use of its existing maintenance funds, Mr Greaves said.

Mark Rodgers and Jodi Andrews were killed when their motorcycle veered into the path of oncoming traffic.

More than 10 per cent of roads are now considered very poor, and that figure will reach 50 per cent by 2025.

More than 1700km of state roads are so damaged that safety warnings and speed reductions are necessary.

The report recommends an overhaul of the state’s approach to road maintenance and highlighted that speed reduction, road closures and diversions, as well as warning signage, were all being deployed when roads had expected safety impacts.

Opposition roads spokesman Ryan Smith said: “Lives are at risk because Daniel Andrews is failing to spend enough money on Victorian roads.

“Today’s report released by the Auditor-General tells us what we have all known for some time — that a lack of investment in major new road infrastructure and road repair will cost lives.”

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