VICROADS has selected Option B2 as its preferred route for a future Western Highway bypass of Horsham.
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VicRoads had shortlisted options B2, 11 and a hybrid of the two - Option D – for more detailed investigation in December last year.
Regional director Ewen Nevett said VicRoads considered the results of specialist studies, an assessment of the hybrid option and community feedback before making its decision.
“The primary objectives of this planning study are to identify an alignment that will improve freight efficiency, travel time and road safety,” he said.
“While the results of the specialist studies and planning investigations indicate that options B2, 11 and D all meet road safety objectives, Option B2 provides the travel time reduction.”
Mr Nevett said the operational benefits provided by Option B2 were a key influencing factor for its selection as the preferred option.
He said the travel time saving for heavy vehicles on the Western Highway for Option B2 was about five minutes a vehicle.
"This equates to an overall saving of 140 hours of travel time for heavy vehicles per day by 2031,” he said.
Option D showed an overall saving of 106 hours a day and Option 11 had a saving of 85 hours a day.
Construction timing is subject to the future allocation of project funding.
The planning for the Horsham Bypass is part of the $48.45-million Western Highway Upgrade between Stawell and the South Australian border which is being jointly funded by the federal and state governments.
People can visit vicroads.vic.gov.au/horshambypass, email horshambypass@roads.vic.gov.au or call 5333 8759 for more information.
