Major upgrades to the Princes Highway in eastern Victoria will begin soon, with the Federal and Victorian governments signing off on a combined $50 million package of works.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the road works would better connect Gippsland to the north of the border, including the Port of Eden and Canberra.
“The improvements will address safety risks in the Nicholson and Lakes Entrance areas by improving intersections and providing an upgraded rest area at the Jemmy’s Point lookout,” Mr Chester said.
“It will also make The Esplanade in Lakes Entrance safer for pedestrians and road users.
“With the addition of a new roundabout in Cann River, the Princes Highway in far East Gippsland will be made safer for B-double trucks, allowing for the efficient movement of local horticulture, seafood and forestry products.”
Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said the Princes Highway was an important freight corridor and the major route for tourist traffic through Gippsland and southern New South Wales.
“These upgrades will deliver a significant safety boost for drivers along the highway, particularly around Lakes Entrance, with a new overtaking lane east of Genoa, and new safety barriers at high-risk locations,” Mr Donnellan said.
“The upgrade will fix many dangerous sections of the highway in far East Gippsland, where there are steep drop-offs and sharp curves that make it difficult for motorists to overtake safely, increasing the risk of run-off-road and head-on crashes.”
The $50 million project is being funded by the Australian and Victorian governments in a 50:50 split.
