Upgrades confirmed for the Sunraysia Highway in August are set to benefit freight operators and farmers.
A joint $4.16 million investment from the Australian and Victorian governments will enable crews to upgrade the Mcloughlans Road and Birchip-Rainbow Road intersections on the Sunraysia Highway.
Both intersections are located on bends.
Situated between Birchip and Woomelang, the sections of road are going to be remodelled to T-shaped intersections to improve visibility.
The Sunraysia Highway provides a key road for both locals and our broader agricultural industry, with more than 500 vehicles using this section of the highway each day, including around 70 trucks and other heavy vehicles.
These works form part of the $68.75 million Roads of Strategic Importance – Ballarat to Ouyen corridor.
Crews will also widen and resurface sections of the Sunraysia Highway, add a new left turn lane from the Sunraysia Highway into Birchip-Rainbow Road, build a raised median on Birchip-Rainbow Road, and install safety barriers and new street lighting at both intersections.
The new intersections will no longer be curved, meaning it will be easier for drivers travelling on Mcloughlans Road and Birchip-Rainbow Road to see vehicles travelling on the Sunraysia Highway.
Works will continue at the intersections until early 2023, with the roads to remain open and reduced speed limits in place.
“There’s a mix of both heavy and light vehicles sharing this section of the highway, which is why the Australian Government is investing in this project to ensure the intersections are safe for everyone,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.
“We’re investing a record amount in infrastructure projects across the state and that includes in regional Victoria, ensuring the needs of our communities are funded and delivered.”