Wire rope barriers could be installed between Buninyong and Meredith as part of a major road safety push.
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The Midland Highway is one of eight rural roads selected to be upgraded as part of a $229 million investment.
Community consultation will begin soon, and potential upgrades include centre-line and roadside barriers, rumble strips, and overtaking opportunities.
This follows new overtaking lanes south of Meredith, a new roundabout on the highway interchange with the Western Freeway, and the roll-out of roadside barriers toward Creswick – the state government backed down on installing centre-line barriers there.
There have been dozens of incidents along this stretch of the highway over the years, from minor collisions to a serious crash near Elaine in February last year.
Safe System Road Infrastructure Program director Scott Lawrence said preliminary plans will be shared “mid-year”, with work to begin in late-2019.
“Everybody makes mistakes on our roads, but our safety upgrades are ensuring we have a more forgiving road environment for when those mistakes do happen,” he said.
“We’ll be talking to the community and local landholders in coming months about the Midland Highway between Buninyong and Meredith, to understand their needs and how the road is currently being used.
“That feedback will help to inform our safety upgrade designs, which we plan to share with the community mid-year.”
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