Casterton-Apsley Rd: Safety is a duty of care, says Emiel Timmers
DANGEROUS dips, faded double lines and blind bends, mean that Emiel Timmers sees drivers regularly on the wrong side of the Casterton-Apsley Road, in western Victoria.
DANGEROUS dips, faded double lines and blind bends, mean that Emiel Timmers sees drivers regularly on the wrong side of Casterton-Apsley Rd, in western Victoria.
Mr Timmers, who lives on the road at Warrock, said significant damage across the road and a lack of repairs, means that vehicles, including trucks, openly drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid potholes, often on blind corners, posing a risk to oncoming traffic.
“Come and drive 30km of road, between Casterton and Dergholm, and see what is happening,” Mr Timmers said.
“Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen one fatality and one near fatality (on Casterton-Apsley Rd).”
Mr Timmers said the lack of maintenance across the road network was “negligence”.
“Repairs that are done are of substandard quality, never inspected and when completed fall apart within two to three days.”
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Mr Timmers said he could not blame road users for driving dangerously.
“Had VicRoads and their representatives repaired the road properly the first time, roads users would not be forced to drive in such a dangerous manner, simply to avoid damage to their vehicles.
“VicRoads do not need more funding; they need to use their current funding effectively … It has a duty of care to ensure the roads are safe.”
Mr Timmers said concern for the region’s roads were “a very, very common story,” among his neighbours.
VicRoads will spend $40 million upgrading roads in south west Victoria, including widening a narrow section of Casterton-Apsley Rd in 2018-2019.
Under the VicRoads Road Management Plan, Casterton-Apsley Rd is inspected monthly.
In February last year, VicRoads completed 5.3 kilometres of resurfacing works on the road and a further road patching is proposed by March.
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