State government slammed over Bacchus Marsh Rd safety upgrade delays

A Geelong road project urged to be “fast-tracked” in 2017 is still ongoing, with the Opposition slamming the excuses given for the continual delays.

Ongoing delays to planned safety upgrades on one of the region’s most dangerous roads have been slammed by the state opposition

The Victorian Government first committed $50 million to upgrading Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd in 2016, but a 2020 Auditor General’s report found the vital project had been heavily slowed down.

Six people have been tragically killed and another 32 seriously injured in crashes on the stretch between 2010 and 2017.

Bacchus Marsh Rd roadworks

It’s understood excessive rainfall and Covid restrictions hindered the project’s progress, but crews will work over multiple sites this summer to pick up the pace.

Despite calls from then-roads minister Luke Donnellan to fast-track upgrades in 2017, the Auditor General found three years later the project was the most-delayed of the state government’s $1 billion top-20 roads upgrade blitz.

Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur said “not even berating from the Auditor General” had motivated the state government to pick up pace.

“Blaming Covid and wet weather for the failure to complete safety upgrades on one of the state’s most dangerous roads is offensive to those who depend on this road, the 5900 vehicles, every day,” she said.

“These aren’t just cars or trucks, they’re lives.”

Bacchus Marsh Rd roadworks

It’s understood major works between Little River-Ripley Rd and Heales Rd have finished, with final surfacing works of an overtaking lane near Granite Rd to be completed in coming weeks.

Crews will turn their attention to the northern stretch between Glenmore Rd and Birds Rd, improving surfacing, widening the road, installing safety barriers and rumble strip line-marking.

A state government spokesman said the work was underway on the important freight route, with the opening stages of work between Elcho Road and Little River Road also finished.

“These vital upgrades on Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road will help to address its unacceptable crash history – that ranks it among the most dangerous high-speed roads in Victoria,” he said.

Bacchus Marsh Rd roadworks

“The installation of safety infrastructure – including flexible safety barriers, overtaking lanes and a new roundabout – is proven to reduce the risk of head-on and run-off road crashes, the two biggest causes of death and serious injury.”

Upgrades at Elcho Rd will include new safety barriers, overtaking lanes and a new roundabout.

In addition to freight, the route connects 5900 vehicles per day with the towns of Lara, Bacchus Marsh and Geelong.

Ms McArthur called on the state to take better care of regional roads across the state.

“The Bacchus Marsh-Geelong Road may be considered one of the state’s worst,” she said.

“However, anyone in regional and rural Victoria knows that the condition of so many country roads is dire.”

Dropping speed limits to 40km/hr in 100km/hr zones is not a safety solution. Just as trumpeting close to $1 billion worth of wire rope barriers is no solution to proper road construction and maintenance.”

Originally published as State government slammed over Bacchus Marsh Rd safety upgrade delays