A SECTION of the Wimmera Highway will be rebuilt as part of a state government roads upgrade.
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The government announced on Thursday it would upgrade roads across the state, including a 4.5-kilometre section of the highway at Dooen.
Work will be completed between October and April next year, when warmer, drier weather allows new road surfaces to cure.
Longerenong farmer Robyn Gulline said the Wimmera Highway at Dooen was appalling.
“It desperately needs an upgrade – like so many other roads in the area – so I absolutely welcome the funding,” she said.
“I know many people who refuse to use that road – it’s amazing how many actually use Longerenong Road now instead.
“The highway bounces trucks around.
“During harvest my staff have used it a few times and it’s horrid.
“It’s not a good road to be on in any vehicle.”
Mrs Gulline said the Henty Highway was another road in urgent need of repair.
“I couldn’t even nominate what section of that road needs work – the whole thing is shocking,” she said.
“Even Longerenong Road needs a big upgrade. It’s very narrow in spots and not very nice when you come across B-doubles going in the other direction.”
Mrs Gulline will be a community representative at a Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership assembly in Horsham on Wednesday.
She will discuss the challenges individuals and businesses face using roads and rail in the region.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the government’s roads investment would improve the safety and reliability of roads that connected residents, visitors and primary producers.
“Regional Victorians deserve a safe and smooth road network,” she said.
“Over the next 12 months VicRoads will be doing more pavement work than it has done in decades.”
Ms Pulford said VicRoads would continue to monitor roads for hazards and complete short-term safety repairs until the major upgrade work started.