THE state government says it will deliver a “critical safety project” on Walhalla Road, with crews recently began work to install a safety barrier on the outside curve of the first corner of the road leaving the town, following detailed planning and engineering assessment.
Work has begun and includes:
-Road widening to allow sufficient width for barrier installation;
-New kerb and channel along the inside of the road to improve drainage;
-New safety barrier along the outside of the curve and;
-The section of the road will be resurfaced and relinemarked as a result of these barrier works.
In July 2022, Regional Roads Victoria crew and Victoria Police carried out a joint site inspection of the crash site to investigate how safety could be improved.
Since this inspection, crews have added additional signage, guideposts, and trimmed foliage to improve visibility of signs and installed a large ‘curve warning’ sign with a 25km/h ‘advisory speed limit’ and ‘reduce speed’ message.
The installation of the permanent safety barrier will complete key recommendations made in the road safety audit.
Regional Roads Victoria has worked closely with road safety experts in planning for this project.
During construction, there will be reduced speed limits and lane closures. Drivers are urged to take extra care and drive to the traffic conditions.
The works should be completed this month.
Earlier this year, two major crashes occurred within weeks on Walhalla Road.
In the first incident in June, 19-year-old Declan Day died and three other teenagers were injured when the vehicle they were in slid off a cliff, falling 21 metres.
In July, another car with two occupants fell off the same stretch of road, plunging 10 metres. The pair escaped with injuries.
