Newsroom

22 February 2025
Melba Highway detours at Dixons Creek
UPDATE: Work to repair the landslips at Dixon Creek has been paused and the Melba Highway has reopened.
 
There have been persistent problems with truck and car drivers creating hazardous conditions by ignoring recommended detours and attempting to take short cuts on unsuitable roads.
 
Work will be suspended while a review of detour arrangements is undertaken."

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Original article

Riders in the Yarra Ranges face an extended road closure through Dixons Creek until the end of March.

The Melba Highway will be closed from 17 February to repair two landslips between Hunts Lane and the Healesville–Kinglake Road.

The highway will re-open temporarily for the Labour Day long weekend from the afternoon of Friday 7 March to 7am Tuesday 11 March in both directions, and temporary speed limits will be in place. The closure will resume from 7am Tuesday 12 March.

Riders with bikes suitable for gravel could detour via Hunts Lane, Steels Creek Road and Mount Slide Road through the Kinglake National Park to the Healesville Kinglake Road.

Since the road closure was put in place, there have been many instances of motor vehicles and trucks not following the recommended detours and crowding onto narrow winding roads.

Riders need to be aware that some cars are trying to cut through using Mt Slide Road, and heavy vehicles have been attempting to navigate the twisty section of the Heidelberg–Kinglake Road between St Andrews and Kinglake, with hair-raising results.

Transport Victoria has ramped up surveillance and traffic management, however riders need to remain alert.

A signed detour for light vehicles, rigid truck and buses will be in place via Healesville–Kinglake Road and Healesville–Yarra Glen Road. Drivers can expect additional travel times of over 30 minutes.

There will be significant disruptions to heavy vehicles with semitrailer combinations, rigid truck and trailer combination, or vehicles with a length greater than 19m. These vehicles will be required to detour via: Whittlesea–Yea Road and Plenty Road; Melba Highway, Healesville–Kinglake Road towards Kinglake and Whittlesea–Kinglake Road; or alternatively, these vehicles may choose to detour earlier via the Goulburn Valley Highway and the Hume Freeway.

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