Some of the region’s high-risk roads are targeted for works

THE Longford-Loch Sport, Rosedale-Longford, Seaspray and Traralgon-Maffra roads are some of the local roads set to share in $25 million in upgrades.

The spend will target some of the region’s worst arterial roads, selected based on their safety risk, to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries across the region.

Successful projects in Wellington Shire include resurfacing 2.8 kilometres of the Longford-Loch Sport Rd in Longford (set to receive $5.4 million), 4.4km of the Rosedale-Longford Rd either side of the Chessum Rd intersection, ($4.3 million), about 3.1km of Seaspray Rd in Longford ($4.3 million) and about 1.8km of the Traralgon-Maffra Rd in Winnindoo ($6.3 million).

Work is set to begin immediately, and should be finished by June.

The federal government is providing $20 million for the local road upgrades, with the state government contributing $5 million.

Gippsland MHR Darren Chester said the routes which had been targeted were all high-speed arterial routes which were owned and maintained by the state government.

“There will be some disruption during construction, and I urge motorists to be patient, but the long term benefits will be very significant,” he said.

The Gippsland road upgrades are part of a broader $245 million road improvement blitz across Victoria, designed to reduce road trauma and save lives.

State Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said the program was targeting some of the highest-risk areas in the state.

“Crews are ready get started immediately at a number of these sites,” he said.

Eastern Victoria MLC Jane Garrett said the upgrades could save lives.

“This is a major investment in local infrastructure and drivers will have safer and more reliable journeys thanks to these improvements,” she said.

The projects range from smaller-scale improvements to major upgrades.

Works will include new safety barriers to prevent head-on and run-off-road crashes, rumble strip line-marking to alert drivers if they veer from their lane, safety upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists, intersection upgrades, new road shoulders and other upgrades.

The works are expected to be delivered across Victoria by mid-year.