MOST of Ballarat and the region's roadworks should be completed by March, says the Department of Transport.
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Travellers in and around the Ballarat region will have noticed a series of roadworks, particularly those heading to Creswick and Geelong as major works on the Midland Highway take shape.
A project set for an early completion is the Kennedys Road roundabout project which is part of a $14.5 million package on the Midland Highway between Ballarat and Creswick.
However, the project between Buninyong and Clarendon is not to be completed until mid-year.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said an unseasonably wet year and soft ground conditions delayed works and meant additional earthworks were required.
"We're currently building kerbing and centre islands, with construction due to wrap-up in February with some minor tidying up expected in March," she said.
The Midland Highway section between Buninyong and Elaine will take longer with the project, which began in August last year, expected to be completed by the middle of 2021, weather permitting.
At the moment intensive works are underway in a number of sections from Mount Buninyong Road to south of Courts Road.
The upgrades include a new overtaking lane in each direction, intersection improvements such as dedicated turning lanes, safety barriers to reduce the risk of head-on and run-off-road crashes, rumble strip line markings and emergency stopping bays.
Reduced speeds will be adjusted in sections as works progress to minimise disruptions for drivers.
Other works ahead include a 4.5km resealing of Remembrance Drive at Cardigan in mid-February, weather dependent, while wire barriers are also being installed on the Western Freeway between Ballarat-Burrumbeet Road and the Midland Highway (Creswick Road).
A Department of Transport spokesperson said major works were making country roads safer.
"Upgrades like new wire rope safety barriers have been proven to save lives and address common crash types in regional areas such as run-off-road crashes."
"We know how important safe and reliable local roads are, which is why $76 million is being invested into rebuilding, repairing and resurfacing more than 360km of roads across western Victoria this maintenance season alone."
"We thank the community for their patience while we finish these projects and we ask everyone to pay extra attention to the reduced speeds and traffic management in place at work sites."
A Department of Transport spokesperson said major works were making country roads safer.
"Upgrades like new wire rope safety barriers have been proven to save lives and address common crash types in regional areas such as run-off-road crashes.
"We know how important safe and reliable local roads are, which is why $76 million is being invested into rebuilding, repairing and resurfacing more than 360km of roads across western Victoria this maintenance season alone.
"We thank the community for their patience while we finish these projects and we ask everyone to pay extra attention to the reduced speeds and traffic management in place at work sites."
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