$165M emergency road repair blitz for flood-affected Victorian regions

The Victorian Government is delivering a $165 million road repair blitz as part of its $351 million flood recovery package for regional communities.

Works will include finding and repairing potholes, asphalting, and repairing damaged road surfaces to reconnect communities and get freight moving across the state.

The package will also cover larger-scale works such as the rebuilding of roads, bridges, and culverts – particularly in the Western, Hume, and Loddon Mallee regions which have been most heavily damaged to date.

A Victorian Flood Recovery Management Plan will deliver $150 million for an immediate state-coordinated clean up – allowing crews to move quickly into the worst-affected areas for hazard assessment and demolition of any severely damaged structures.

Since the beginning of the flood emergency, 509 roads have been closed, with 150 since reopened. Crews are working around the clock to restore access in areas where water levels have subsided to safe levels.

Hundreds of crews have already undertaken more than 500 individual inspections, found and fixed 10,000 potholes, and attended more than 20 landslips across Victoria.

Major Road Projects Victoria is working closely with contractors across the Victoria’s Big Build program – including Fulton Hogan, Downer, Winslow, and Buildgroup – which have offered to join in a coordinated effort with Regional Roads Victoria to repair the state’s roads.

Crews have already made significant progress on repairs to the Hume Freeway, the Western Highway, the Goulburn Valley Freeway, and the Murray Valley Highway.

“There isn’t a second to waste as we begin recovery in flood-affected communities – whether it’s support for households, clean-ups, or local roads, we’ll deliver the support Victorians need,” said Premier Daniel Andrews.

“There is a significant job ahead of us but we’re equal to it – I know that all levels of government will keep working together to get this job done.”

For more on the flood recovery, visit: www.vic.gov.au