Victoria road projects
The road improvement programme is jointly funded by the Governments of Australia and Victoria. Credit: Jamar Penny on Unsplash.

More than 100 road safety projects are set to begin in the Australian state of Victoria under a A$245m ($189m) road improvement programme.

The road improvements will begin across Victoria mid this year and will include a wide range of safety improvements such as new safety barriers to avoid head-on and run-off-road crashes and the installation of rumble strip line-marking to alert drivers if they veer from their lane.

In addition, the programme includes safety upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a number of intersection upgrades in local communities.

The road improvement programme is jointly funded by the Governments of Australia and Victoria.

As part of this initiative, the Australian Government is providing funding of A$183m ($141m) while A$62m ($48m) is being provided by the Victorian Government.

Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack and Victoria Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said that the first tranche of the jointly funded projects would begin later this month.

McCormack said: “We are ensuring this road safety package can roll-out quickly, saving lives and reducing injuries.

“These projects were selected based on the safety risk at each of the locations, with the aim of reducing road trauma in both regional and metropolitan areas, because any death on our roads is one too many.”

The new initiative builds on the previous joint A$97.2m ($75.3m) investment made by the Australian and Victorian Governments to enhance road safety across the state.

As part of the project, road safety improvement works will be carried out on the Midland Highway between Daylesford and Guildford, on Portarlington-Queenscliff Road at Portarlington, and on the Western Highway.

In the Melbourne region, traffic signals will be upgraded on the Plenty Road in Bundoora and on Bridge Road near Yarra Boulevard in Richmond.

Carroll said: “This extensive package of projects ranges from smaller-scale improvements to major upgrades, with crews ready to hit the ground and get started immediately at a number of these sites.

“Whether you’re commuting to work, going for a Sunday ride, or dropping the kids off at school, we’re ensuring that our road network is safer for everyone.”