Works on the Barwon Heads Road upgrade are pushing ahead, with significant progress made during the summer.
More than 90,000 cubic metres of earth has been moved to allow the construction of new lanes, bridges and retaining walls, while 15 kilometres of drainage under the road has also been installed.
Contractors also used the summer months to relocate more than 10 kilometres worth of telecommunications, electricity and water infrastructure to allow for the expansion.
A new access road connecting Barwon Heads Road to Horseshoe Bend Road has also opened.
Works have now started on the foundation for the bridge over the railway line at Marshall.
Almost 1500 piles have been installed for the bridge, as well as the bridge over Waurn Ponds Creek, and manufacturing of the Thomson bridge’s steel beams is underway at a Corio factory.
Over the weekend, 24-hour works took place from 7pm on Friday, April 1 until 6am Monday, April 4 between Settlement Road and Breakwater Road, to install drainage under Barwon Heads Road to prepare for new lanes.
During the weekend closure, Barwon Heads Road was closed in both directions between Settlement Road and Breakwater Road.
The Barwon Heads Upgrade project extends four kilometres from Settlement Road to Reserve Road and includes upgraded intersections and new traffic lights, new shared walking and cycling paths and dedicated road cycling lanes, as well as the level crossing removal and new bridge.
Once complete, the duplication will improve safety and traffic flow and cater for up to 44,000 daily journeys by 2031.
“This project is vital to the local community – providing better connections and improving safety for the many families, business owners and essential services travelling between Geelong and the Bellarine,” South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said.
“It’s great to see works progressing – which will slash travel times and help get motorists home safer and sooner.”
