Sections of one of Victoria’s most dangerous roads to Geelong’s north have closed for safety upgrades over the next two months.
Over seven years eight people have died on the notoriously dangerous Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd, while 50 people sustained serious injuries and 74 crashes occurred.
Vicroads this week closed access to Elcho Road on the Lara side of Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd until 22 March for the construction of a new roundabout.
“There will be local access only from the Patullos Rd end of Elcho Rd,” a Vicroads spokesperson said.
The authority also closed the southbound lane of the road between Granite Rd and Windermere Rd until the end of February.
Vicroads would redirect traffic heading towards Geelong left onto Granite Rd and along a detour, before redirecting traffic back onto Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd at Windermere Rd, the spokesperson said.
“Northbound traffic towards Bacchus Marsh can continue along Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Rd with reduced speed limits.
“The works to widen the road shoulder will create changed traffic conditions which mean we need to reduce the speed limit, even when our crews aren’t on site, to keep drivers and our workers safe.”Vicroads encouraged drivers to plan ahead and allow up to 15 minutes extra travel time.
“We suggest drivers use alternate routes travelling between Geelong, Bacchus Marsh Rd and Lara,” the spokesperson said.
The closures come after then Roads Minister Luke Donnellan last October announced early works had begun on a section of the road between Lara and Balliang East.
“We promised to make this road safer to prevent run-off-road crashes and ultimately save lives – and we’re getting on with it,” he said.
The works included a wider centreline between Heales Rd and Peak School Rd and safety barriers between Peak School Rd and Little River Ripley Rd.
The works also included new overtaking lanes between Peak School Rd and Carrs Rd and intersection upgrades at Granite Rd and Carrs Rd.
State Government expected construction of the first section of work to conclude by mid-2019.
