The Victorian government has launched a significant road maintenance initiative aimed at bolstering Victoria’s multi-billion dollar grain industry.
As part of a $964 million investment in road maintenance, crews have begun rehabilitation works on a one-kilometre stretch of the Western Highway in Lawloit, between Kaniva and Nhill.
This crucial section of highway plays a vital role in transporting thousands of tonnes of grain from regional farms to storage facilities in Nhill, underpinning Victoria’s $4.4 billion grain industry.
The Western Highway also serves as a major link between South Australia and western Victoria, facilitating the movement of hundreds of thousands of drivers and millions of tonnes of freight between Melbourne and Adelaide annually.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne emphasised the importance of these works, stating: “We’re rebuilding this stretch of the Western Highway to ensure the road is more resilient to handle larger, heavier trucks that are getting goods to market — supporting the farmers, freight operators, and families who rely on it every single day.”
The rehabilitation project is expected to take approximately two months to complete, weather permitting.
Concurrently, major repairs are also underway in Beaufort and Trawalla along the Western Highway.
This initiative is part of a broader road maintenance blitz scheduled to run until June 2025.
During this period, crews will complete thousands of individual projects to rebuild, repair, and resurface roads across Victoria, with about 70 per cent of the funding allocated to regional roads.
Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora highlighted the local impact of these improvements, saying: “Whether it’s getting grain to storage or simply driving to work, these major repairs on the Western Highway will make life easier for everyone in our community.”
As warmer conditions are more suitable for major roadworks, drivers can expect to see increased activity from road crews across the state in the coming months.
