Maxwell welcomes roads funding

MP TANIA Maxwell has welcomed a $9.7 million state government investment to make Northern Victoria's roads safer for drivers and local communities, including in the Strathbogie Shire. Details of projects funded in round 3 in Avenel will enable safety improvements including improved signage and line marking. The cost will be $720,000, with $144,000 from the state and $576,000 from a federal level. Signage and line marking provides a greater opportunity for drivers and riders to correct their actions before an accident occurs. It is expected that improving signage and line markings will result in a reduction in serious injuries and fatalities. Strathbogie Shire Council Acting Mayor Paul Murray is thrilled about this news. "We welcome all funding to make roads in Strathbogie Shire safer and to help with our significant maintenance and improvement efforts," Cr Murray said. "Strathbogie Shire Council manages 2207km of roads, that's 1470km of unsealed and 737km of sealed. On top of this we look after 521 bridges and culverts. "This joint funded State and Federal Government project at Avenel is on VicRoads' managed road and we are pleased the investment has been made to improve safety for our community members and visitors alike. "We know improving the safety at this intersection is something Avenel residents have been pushing for for many years, so I congratulate the local community for their persistence and advocacy success." The Derryn Hinch's Justice Party MP said Victoria will fund 20 per cent and the Federal Government 80 per cent for safety works at Avenel, Bendigo, Cosgrove South, Shepparton, Kilmore, Warracknabeal to Birchip, and Robinvale to Sealake, costing almost $49m in the third round of the national Road Safety Program announced last week. "I'm really pleased to see money for improvements to the complicated and dangerous intersection where Jones and Tarcombe roads join the Hume Freeway at Avenel, which the community and I have been chasing for almost three years," Ms Maxwell said. "The funded project, costing $720,000, will improve signage and line–marking and that's a good step. "The Victorian and federal governments say the changes will help drivers and riders correct their actions approaching the intersection, reducing the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. "After numerous meetings, I last talked with advisers to Roads and Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll MP and Regional Roads Victoria six months ago to put the community's solutions for a safer freeway intersection on the table. "Following a safety review promised in May 2020, and since carried out by Regional Roads Victoria, the concept plans for the fix the community's been seeking were due in December. "But the people of Avenel are still waiting, they deserve to see this sorted." National Road Safety Program jointly–funded works have to be finished within six months.