Construction is underway on Stage Three of the $363.47 million Princes Highway West Duplication – between Winchelsea and Colac – on a section between Warncoort and Ballie Street, Colac East.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said that Princes Highway West is a vital route for regional commuters as well as freight traffic and tourists.
“From Winchelsea to Colac, the highway is a two-lane, single carriageway with narrow sealed shoulders. This upgrade will tackle the problem of poor visibility and terrain which leads to motorists becoming frustrated and undertaking dangerous overtaking manoeuvers,” Mr Chester said.
According to VIC Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan, works on this project will include the construction of a new two-lane carriageway as well as rehabilitation works on the existing carriageway in order to provide a four-lane divided road.
“The Princes Highway Duplication project is a crucial investment for residents and farmers who reside along this corridor, which is also an important part of the state’s tourism infrastructure as a gateway to the Great Ocean Road,” Mr Donnellan said.
Federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson said that approximately 8.5 kilometres of the highway is going to be duplicated – from Warncoort to Colac East. Ms Henderson added that once the project is completed, it will help improve travel time reliability and safety on the road as well as reduce vehicle operating costs and environmental emissions.
Works on the entire Winchelsea to Colac duplication project on the Princes Highway began in mid-2015 and, weather permitting, is expected to be completed by late 2019.
“Construction is underway on other stages of this Princes Highway West project, from Winchelsea to Armytage and Armytage to Warncoort. The Colac CBD stage was completed in May 2015,” Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said.
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Source: Premier of Victoria
