Major works to upgrade Barwon Heads Road will begin next month.
Over the next month, crews will continue road widening, boundary fencing, utility relocations and site establishment works, paving the way for major construction to begin in October.
The project will be delivered concurrently through a trio of construction partners, providing
opportunities across the construction industry and creating around 500 local jobs and about 1400 indirect jobs.
Decmil, BMD Constructions and BildGroup will build the project, in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria.
The Barwon Heads Road Upgrade will add new lanes for approximately 4km between Settlement Road and Reserve Road, remove the level crossing at Marshall, and upgrade intersections at Settlement Road and Breakwater Road.
New traffic signals will also be constructed at Crows Road, Barwarre Road, Marshalltown Road and Reserve Road.
As part of the upgrade, on-road cycling lanes and an off-road shared use pedestrian and cycling path will also be built, improving safety for vulnerable road users and allowing better connections to the Waurn Ponds Trail, the South Barwon Reserve, Belmont Common and the Barwon River Precinct.
A new bridge over the Melbourne-Warrnambool rail line removes the level crossing at Marshall.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the upgrade would improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on the road, which is a crucial arterial link between Geelong, the Bellarine and the growing Armstrong Creek residential precinct.
“By boosting capacity and removing a key traffic bottleneck, this upgrade will ensure the thousands of people who rely on Barwon Heads Road every day get to where they need to go sooner and safer,” he said.
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said the upgrade would provide better connections to active and public transport modes and ensure Barwon Heads Road could cater for the up to 44,000 daily journeys expected on the road by 2031.
