Local tourism and business in South Gippsland will benefit from a $10 million safety upgrade of the Hyland Highway between Traralgon and Yarram.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the highway upgrade would make the area more attractive to visitors interested in touring through the picturesque region, while enhancing transport efficiency for local producers and industry.
Mr Chester, who is also the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, last week met with officials from VicRoads to receive an update on the highway upgrade project.
“The Hyland Highway is an important tourism and freight route. The improvement works identified are designed to boost safety, efficiency, accessibility and reliability for all road users,” Mr Chester said.
“VicRoads has consulted with stakeholders and the community to identify priority areas along the highway for action. The feedback received showed the main concern for highway users was the narrowness of the road.”
The proposed works program includes redesigning intersections, widening lanes, installing safety barriers, and constructing slow vehicle pullover areas. It also includes widening the shoulder of the highway between Flynns Creek Road and the South Gippsland Highway, including on either side of Gormandale.
“The safety of intersections, particularly at Flynns Creek Road, Carrajung-Woodside Road, Gormandale-Stradbroke Road and Grand Ridge Road intersections, was also a key community concern,” Mr Chester said.
“As a result, the upgrade of these intersections have been included in the proposed works program, as have new slow vehicle pull-over bays.
“With safer roads, transporting goods in our area will become more efficient and our region will be more attractive to touring visitors – and that will benefit all of us.”
The Federal Government and the State Government are jointly funding the $10 million Hyland Highway upgrade. The project funding is to be spent on improvement works, not routine maintenance.
The highway upgrade project is part of a record $130 million funding haul announced by both governments for key freight and tourism routes across Gippsland.
