Road repairs start with funding push

ERIN PEARSON
CLOSURES and reduced speed limits will confront motorists on the Great Ocean Road after work started this week to repair a series of landslips, VicRoads has warned.
The damage prompted Geelong Otway Tourism to call for federal funding to prevent further inconvenience for road users.
Drenching rain during summer caused the landslips between Anglesea and Apollo Bay, forcing authorities to close a 40-kilometre section of road between Lorne and Skenes Creek.
VicRoads south-western regional director Robin Miles said the repairs at 11 sites would continue until July.
Mr Miles said workers would place columns at two-metre intervals to create retaining walls.
“Our teams have worked very hard to keep the Great Ocean Road open to traffic and the community.
“We expect these works will minimise possible impacts during future heavy rainfall,” said Mr Miles.
“Traffic controllers will be in place to monitor and assist with traffic flow, keeping traffic delays to a minimum.
“However, there will be times when the entire road will be closed.
“These times will be limited to approximately five minutes.”
Mr Miles said speed limits would fall to 40km/h in the vicinity of landslips while work was underway.
He urged motorists to “drive to road conditions”.
“Works will be carried out between 7am to 6pm on weekdays, weather permitting.
After-hours and weekend traffic management will be controlled using temporary traffic signals.”
Geelong Otway Tourism deputy executive director Terry Hickey said the road would remain “fully operational” throughout the repairs.
“All walks and businesses are open and the coast hasn’t lost any of its assets,” he said.
“We experienced a once-in-a-decade rain event last summer, so what we’re now doing is providing a level of maintenance that’s required to bring the road back up to scratch.
“We’d now encourage Federal Government to put money in so the road isn’t in the future threatened by weather events.
“We don’t want tourists put-off travelling along the road because they think it’s unsafe so we must ensure these problems don’t happen again.”
The road recently secured heritage listing.
The repair works will affect traffic around Lorne, Skenes Creek, Cumberland River, Jamieson River, Boggaley Creek, Separation Creek, Kennett River and Cape Patton.