A major upgrade to a busy and complicated intersection at Horsham in western Victoria should significantly improve connections for people on bikes and foot.
The point where the Henty Highway meets the Western Highway and well as Golf Course and Plumpton Roads handles 18,000 vehicles per day, 18% of which are trucks.
The path crossings for bikes and pedestrians are non-existent, some of the worst you would ever see. Multiple serious injury vehicle crashes have occurred in recent years.
The $14 million, 12-month project funded by federal and state governments is predicted to fix that with a new shared path through the area.
The works now underway will be quite disruptive during the construction period, with road and lane closures.
Detours are in place with 40km/h speed limits imposed.
Riders should take particular care as grain truck traffic will peak during the harvest season now underway.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said: “This section of the Henty and Western highways is a key link for Western Victoria – that’s why the Australian Government, in partnership with the Victorian Government, is investing in this crucial corridor.
“By upgrading the Western and Henty highway intersection to a roundabout with extra safety features, we’re supporting local jobs, improving travelling times and ensuring Horsham has the infrastructure it needs.”
The Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight, Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, said: “We are keeping more goods moving smoother on our roads by improving intersections along these key freight routes.
“With traffic flow anticipated to increase due to population growth in the region, we’re constructing a new roundabout to simplify the intersection for drivers and make the journey smoother."
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