Overpass a fix for deadly highway hotspot

Longwarry Primary School captains inspect the works. 165241 Picture: BONNY BURROWS

By Bonny Burrows

Upgrades to a Longwarry intersection labelled one of the most dangerous in the state are now complete.
The $28.75 million project at the Princes Freeway and Sand Road intersection involved the construction of a freeway overpass bridge connecting Labertouche and Longwarry and the redevelopment of inbound and outbound lanes from the road’s two adjoining service stations.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the site was previously a hotspot for incidents, with 60 crashes resulting in two fatalities and several injuries between 2000 and 2015.
Construction for the project began in October, 2015, with funding contributed by State and Federal governments, but community calls for upgrades date back almost two decades.
Mr Chester acknowledged the community’s patience and persistent in getting the project done.
“It’s taken the best part of 17 years to get the project finished for them,” Mr Chester said.
“It’s come in under budget and under time, but the community had to fight for a long time to get the money to fund it and we’re proud to deliver it.”
According to VicRoads the project cost $1.25 million less than expected and was completed eight months ahead of schedule.
The government has not yet decided where the surplus money will be used.
Mr Chester said the upgrades would result in a much safer journey for the 25,000 vehicles that used the intersection daily.
“This will change lives and safe lives. It will reduce the number of serious crashes at this intersection (which) was one of the most dangerous in Victoria in terms of fatalities, crashes and serious injuries,” he said.
Longwarry and District Progress Association president Debbie Brown welcomed the upgrades after 17 years of lobbying.
“As community members we had to cross the road all the time while also fearing whether our families would get home safe,” Ms Brown said.
She said the works would go a long way to improving safety for all drivers, local or not.
The road is officially open to traffic as of this afternoon.
VicRoads project director Charlie Broadhurst said the 80km/h speed restriction, implemented for safety purposes, was expected to remain in place until late March when it would back to the 110km/h limit.