The first upgrade of the Western Highway duplication in Victoria is now complete and open to traffic
February 1, 2013
The first upgrade of the Western Highway duplication in Victoria is now complete and open to traffic.
The 8.1km stretch of the highway between Ballarat and Stawell is part of the $505 million in works to the highway, which Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King says now accommodates more than 1,300 trucks and 5,500 vehicles each day.
The section includes new Melbourne-bound lanes west of Sunraysia Highway to Carpenter Road between Ballarat and Burrumbeet.
“Duplicating the Western Highway will provide major economic benefits to this region and improve access to local and interstate travellers,” King says.
“Travel on the upgraded highway will be safer and more reliable, reducing the risk of head-on accidents and driver frustration due to a lack of safe overtaking opportunities.”
Last year’s flooding and unseasonal rain affected the construction for the first stage of the project.
The Federal Government has set aside $404 million towards the project, with the Victorian Government contributing the rest.
