General News
22 February, 2024
Long-awaited improvement
ONE of the worst roads in the south west has received a much-needed upgrade, but only two sections of the road will receive a facelift.
Crews last week completed major patching works on a section of Mackinnons Bridge Road between the Princes Highway and Pontings Road in Noorat East.
The first 200 metre stretch was completed, with a further 200 metres in asphalting works scheduled to take place from Terang-Mortlake Road to Glenormiston Road.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said the works on Mackinnons Bridge Road would total $276,000 in works.
Department of Transport and Planning executive director Barwon south west and Grampians Michael Bailey said the works were designed to ensure motorists enjoy a smoother driving experience.
“We’re delivering major patching asphalting works along Mackinnons Bridge Road at Noorat East to create a smoother, more reliable surface for drivers,” he said.
"These works are part of our $770 million maintenance blitz, which is delivering large-scale, long-term repairs to roads right across the state.”
The Department of Transport did not confirm if the section between Blacks Drive and Pontings Road, which currently has advisory speed reductions of 80 kilometres per hour in place due to rough surface, would also receive upgrades.
Mackinnons Bridge Road has been among the worst roads in the region, with dozens of potholes and patchwork repairs creating issues for drivers.
As Western District Newspapers previously reported, Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur raised her concerns surrounding the road in Parliament in October 2023, citing Mackinnons Bridge Road as among the “top ten worst in Western Victoria”.
“The government’s solution to rotten roads in my electorate is simply to lower the speed limit on our country byways and highways rather than properly fixing the problem,” she said at the time.
“I have no doubt we will be forced to drive at 40 kilometres an hour on our country roads soon.”
