The Government of Victoria in Australia has announced plans to carry out major upgrades on the Great Ocean Road at Mt Defiance next month.

Upgrade works form part of the A$100m ($76.8m) investment by the state and federal governments to rehabilitate the Great Ocean Road.

Around 2km of the coastal route will be closed from 28 May to 31 May to perform the road improvements that involve important geotechnical, drainage and road rebuilding activities.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said as part of the project, multiple culverts at the site would be replaced and upgraded to enhance long-term drainage and reduce landslide risks.

McCormack added: “A large section of damaged road surface will be rebuilt to improve the strength and safety of the road for drivers.”

“A large section of damaged road surface will be rebuilt to improve the strength and safety of the road for drivers.”

Victorian Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said that loose rocks and drill boreholes at high-risk geotechnical hazard sites will be removed to guide the design and construction of future road stabilisation treatments.

Located nearly 10km west of Lorne at Mt Defiance, the section of the road to be closed is too narrow to enable traffic movement on one lane during upgrade works.

The geography of the location also does not permit to carry out the works at night.

However, during construction works, a detour route will be in place to allow traffic movement in the region.

The provincial government is also set to provide additional A$53m ($40.7m) to safeguard the geotechnical future of the road following the 2016 floods.