Victoria’s regional road network is crumbling as eye-catching metro projects funded

Roads in regional Victoria are in desperate need of repair, but the state government keeps backing “pie in the sky projects”.

Truck driver Adam Slater shows the condition of the Colac-Forrest Road. Picture: Tony Gough

Speed limits are being lowered on regional roads across the state that are in desperate need of repair, prompting calls for the government to fund works in the regions, not just major projects in Melbourne.

RACV senior manager for transport, Peter Kartsidimas, warned “there is a significant backlog of shovel-ready projects, including strengthening and resurfacing roads, sealing shoulders, adding rumble strips and upgrading rail lines”.

“Urgent investment is needed in small-scale road safety and rail projects across regional Victoria.”

He said the move would also ensure jobs for local contractors, as opposed to top-tier construction companies and should be a priority in the November 24 state Budget.

It comes as regional drivers report roads in disrepair and in many cases speed limits are being reduced to avoid accidents.

Speeds in regional Victoria are being reduced because roads are in disrepair. Picture: Tony Gough

Earthmoving contractor Adam Slater knows first-hand how dangerous the roads can be. One of his trucks was written off on the Colac-Forrest Rd in October, but luckily his driver was not injured.

An email from the VicRoads asset management department revealed it was not being considered for widening works despite being a common truck thoroughfare because roads with high casualty rates were the priority.

“There is a 10-15km stretch of road that’s been in bad condition and we have been driving it for years,” he said.

Meanwhile, rather than repair the roads, speed limits across the state have been lowered.

Key roads identified by locals include the Henty Highway between Horsham and Warracknabeal, the Stawell-Warracknabeal Road and the Glenelg Highway in the state’s west. On the Murray Valley Highway near Kerang, the speed limit has been reduced to 60km/h due to potholes.

One of Mr Slater’s $80,000 trucks were written off due to the poor state of a road. Picture: Tony Gough

No state wide road funding has been announced, but the State Government has committed to a 26km underground rail link between Melbourne’s southeast and eastern suburbs with a $2.2bn cash injection in the Budget despite the project having no business case.

But the Budget will include $272.4 million to upgrade the Great Ocean Road and connecting roads.

Opposition Road Safety spokesman Brad Battin said regional roads and jobs were not being prioritised. “Instead of pie in the sky projects, Daniel Andrews should be focused on getting the basics right,” he said.

“The upcoming State Budget must include significant funds to fix the roads Labor has allowed to crumble.”

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