SAFER JOURNEY ON THE PRINCES HIGHWAY EAST OF BAIRNSDALE

The Princes Highway has been made safer for the thousands of people travelling between Bairnsdale and Nowa Nowa each day with a major package of upgrades now complete.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said upgrading the Princes Highway between Sale and the New South Wales border was about getting motorists in regional areas home sooner and safer.

“The Princes Highway is a road of national significance that provides an important link between Victoria and NSW for tourists and the freight industry, so it is vital we make sure the highway is safe and reliable,” Mr McCormack said.

In the five years to the end of 2018, there were 90 casualty crashes recorded on the Princes Highway between Bairnsdale and Nowa Nowa, with one person tragically losing their life and 26 people seriously injured.

Victorian Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford said the Victorian Government was committed to improving safety on the state’s highest risk roads.

“The Princes Highway is one of the state’s most popular tourist and freight routes and carries a high volume of long-distance travellers, which increases the risk of fatigue-related crashes – something these safety upgrades will address,” Ms Pulford said.

Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the community’s feedback was taken into account and helped shape the project.

“The communities of Swan Reach, Johnsonville and Nicholson have welcomed better parking, upgraded bus stops and pedestrian improvements, while along the highway there has been intersection upgrades and road widening and sealing,” Mr Chester said.

“This latest package of improvements add to recently completed upgrades in Nicholson and the new roundabout, parking, streetscaping and pedestrian safety improvements delivered in Cann River.

Works included road shoulder construction and intersection improvements along the highway, as well as bus stop improvements, new pedestrian refuges, upgraded crossings and parking improvements through the towns of Nicholson, Johnsonville and Swan Reach.

These road improvements form part of the Australian and Victorian governments’ $50 million investment package for road improvements on the Princes Highway between Sale and the NSW border.