Murray Valley Highway among state’s worst

More than 2000 people responded to the survey which asked respondents to name the state’s worst roads and to identify the most dangerous hazards that are risking lives on roads every single day.

Great Alpine Rd, between Bairnsdale in East Gippsland and Wangaratta took home the unwanted title of Victoria's worst road “by a significant margin”, while parts of the Murray Valley Highway rated 8th worst in the state.

“In the past two years the Labor Government has axed $200 million from the road maintenance budget. People contact my office about the state of all the roads – check out the potholes on the Hume Freeway from the Logic turn-off to Wodonga. We also talk to people on the road crews and they say that they don’t have the resources to keep up – the money just isn’t there,” Member for Benambra Bill Tilley said.

“The Murray Valley Highway is a very long piece of bitumen and while I think the section in Benambra has its issues, I think overall it is ok. The advice from my colleagues further along the road and the evidence from that survey suggest it is perhaps not so well maintained elsewhere.

“Last week I drove the Up River and Gooramadda Roads, which is managed by the state as well, and there were slabs of the bitumen missing and some pretty decent potholes. Given the traffic that now travels that road I think there is a fair bit of work needed along there as well.

“If we are elected in November, we will immediately bring back the $1 million a year to councils to help with their roadworks and we’ll have more to say on the state’s roads closer to the election.”

Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said the survey results “come as no surprise”.

“The Victorian Government has slashed the roads budget by $215 million over the past two years, leaving regional Victoria to suffer,” Mr McCurdy said.

“We know the further away from Melbourne, the less money the government will spend. The Great Alpine Road is a major tourist highway from Wangaratta, through the Alpine Shire, and down to Bairnsdale, yet is routinely neglected.

“It is already dangerous enough travelling over the mountains, before adding potholes and poor road shoulders to the mix, which can cause damage to vehicles, and is unsafe for drivers.

“The government needs to get in and fix all regional roads, instead of the massive spend and waste on tunnels in Melbourne.”

Shadow Minister for Roads, Danny O’Brien, said the poll results would be forwarded to Roads Minister Ben Carroll to highlight Labor’s failures.

“Labor cut the road maintenance budget by 10 per cent in its first year and has neglected our roads ever since,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It was cut by a further $24 million in this year’s budget after a $191 million cut last year.

“We’re seeing the result of these cuts in poor roads that are unsafe for drivers right around the state.

“The poor roads highlighted by Victorians include local and state-managed roads, showing the impact of Labor’s budget cuts and the axing of the Country Roads and Bridges Program for local councils.

“The Liberals and Nationals are committed to bringing back this program to fix the roads that take people home, as well as those that take them across the state.

“Labor has been in charge of our road network for 19 of the past 23 years and must take responsibility for its failures.”

In Parliament last week State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed called on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to splash cash in the state’s regions to fix crumbling roads.

“Many of Victoria’s rural and regional roads are in a poor condition,” Ms Sheed said.

“They have suffered significant damage and repairs are desperately needed.

“Even major highways such as the Goulburn Valley Highway and the Hume Freeway between Shepparton and Melbourne have significant areas of road damage, with potholes not usually seen on roads of such national importance.”

While Premier Dan Andrews set out in detail the Victorian Government’s seasonal and regional road maintenance blitz in June, he conceded there would be more work to do on regional roads.

Speaking after parliament, Ms Sheed said that she drove on the major highways weekly and saw the damage firsthand.

“While I can see repairs are being carried out on our regional and rural roads, there is still significant damage that could cause accidents, injuries, or damage to vehicles

“Fixing regional and rural roads benefits all Victorians as we all use these roads.

“I want the entire road networks across regional and rural Victoria to be repaired to a high standard to make our roads safe for all users.”