A new roundabout at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Monaro Highway in Cann River is now open, making this intersection safer for drivers and pedestrians.
The single lane roundabout at the western entry to Cann River will improve safety by reducing the speed of vehicles travelling through this busy intersection and providing a new pedestrian refuge for safer highway crossing.
This intersection is used by an average of 2,000 vehicles per day, with 20 per cent of these being heavy vehicles.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the project was another example of the Australian Government’s commitment to improve roads – especially in rural and regional Australia – to ensure people can get home sooner and safer and to provide a boost to productivity.
“This busy and important intersection on the western entry to Cann River handles around 2,000 vehicles a day – around 400 of which are heavy vehicles,” Mr McCormack said.
The new roundabout is improving traffic flows in and out of the town and will continue to do so during peak tourism periods.
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said fixing rural and regional roads was a key focus for the Victorian Government.
“This roundabout is at the junction of two major highways and it will bring huge benefits to many pockets of our community—creating safer and more efficient journeys for locals, trucks and tourists,” Mr Donnellan said.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the Princes Highway was a major freight and tourism link between Melbourne and the eastern seaboard, while the Monaro Highway linked south-east Victoria with the southern highlands of New South Wales.
“Cann River’s new roundabout will reduce the speed of vehicles travelling through this major intersection, improving safety for all road users,” Mr Chester said.
The project also includes streetscaping works and a pedestrian refuge for safer highway crossings, which will encourage visitors to take a break from driving and grab something to eat, supporting local business.
State Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing thanked the Cann River community and those travelling along this road for their patience while these important works took place.
“This is a win for the 2,000 vehicles that use this intersection every day—the new roundabout will improve safety and traffic flow for years to come,” Ms Shing said.
Final road surfacing works on the roundabout will be done after winter following the completion of streetscaping works. This will include areas for safer pedestrian crossing and converting Ward Street to a one-way road.
The speed limit on the Princes Highway and Monaro Highway through the Cann River township will be reduced to 50km/h in August to further increase road safety for drivers and pedestrians.
The $2.6 million project is being funded under the Australian and Victorian Governments’ $60 million commitment to a package of works for similar road-upgrade projects on the Princes and Monaro highways.
