1800 jobs to be supported through $780m VIC roads maintenance blitz

The Victorian Government is investing $780 million towards a major road maintenance blitz across regional Victoria to improve connections to work, schools or loved ones. 

The significant funding commitment will rebuild, repair and resurface over 1,500 kilometres of roads across the State. 

Over the next eight months, workers will deliver more than 1,300 individual road projects along Victoria’s busiest and most important transport and travel routes. This includes the Western Highway, Hume Freeway, Murray Valley Highway, Hamilton Highway and South Gippsland Highway. 

These roads have been chosen based on expert inspections as well as community feedback, which ensures that works are delivered where local road users need them the most. 

The major investment will also deliver works on other crucial parts of the State’s road network, with works to include rebuilding bridges, culverts and retaining walls along with inspection and maintenance of traffic lights, signs and other structures. 

The latest technology and methods are going to be used to carry out the works to ensure this road maintenance program delivers the best results for Victorians. 

The road maintenance blitz is estimated to support approximately 1,800 jobs across Victoria. 

Regional roadsides will also be maintained with an additional $3.2 million funding. This will include more mowing, weed spraying and graffiti removal. 

The latest maintenance blitz builds on the 2021/22 maintenance season that improved over 1,500 kilometres of regional roads, adding to the more than 12,000 kilometres of roads rebuilt and resurfaced across the State since 2014. 

“Since 2014, we’ve made record investments in upgrading and maintaining the state’s road network and this work will continue over the next eight months – with a majority of funding spent in regional Victoria. 

“Right across the state, crews will begin repairing and rebuilding the roads that regional Victorians rely on most, connecting people with employment and education opportunities, key freight routes, family and friends,” Minister for Roads and Safety Ben Carroll said. 

The recent funding commitment is part of the Victorian Government’s ongoing investment in upgrading the regional transport network, delivering projects such as the South Gippsland Highway Upgrade, Barwon Heads Road project, and rail upgrades on the Bendigo and Echuca, Shepparton and Gippsland line to boost safety as well as capacity and efficiency. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victoria State Government – Department of Transport; Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Star Weekly; Regional Roads Victoria