CONSTRUCTION of the second stage of Geelong’s bypass officially started this week when politicians moved the first sods of earth.
Victorian Transport Minister Peter Batchelor and Federal Member for Corangamite Stewart McArthur celebrated the start of the 4.5-kilometre section two at Hamlyn Heights.
Cut and Fill Pty Ltd was awarded a $31.7 million construction contract to build the four-lane freeway between Midland Highway at Hamlyn Heights and Hamilton Highway at Fyansford.
A second $15.5 million contract was awarded to FRH Group to construct twin 200-metre bridges spanning the Moorabool River.
Mr Batchelor said complex construction techniques would be needed to manage issues such as the steep 28-metres slope from Church Street to the Moorabool River.
Initial work will involve building an access road to the bridges site before starting to move more than 360,000 cubic tonnes of earth to form embankments at either side of the bridge.
The bridge will rise 20-metres above the environmentally-sensitive river, which will be protected from contractors with a series of no-go zones designed to minimise impact on native vegetation.
Four men rescued after boat capsized
Four men have been rescued from the water after their fishing boat capsized near Queenscliff just before 1pm today.
The incident, witnessed...
