General News
19 July, 2025
DEADLINE PASSES
By CHRIS EARL Still no date on start to highway work PRESSURE is building on the State Government to end the five-year delay and start work on Calder Highway passing lanes at Derby. Loddon Mayor Dan Straub said designs for the project were ready...
By CHRIS EARL
Still no date on startto highway work
PRESSURE is building on the State Government to end the five-year delay and start work on Calder Highway passing lanes at Derby.
Loddon Mayor Dan Straub said designs for the project were ready three years ago when the Federal Government called a review of projects it had funded.
“That review eventually gave the Calder Highway passing lanes the green light, the planning permit for removal of trees was already in place, but there’s still no action from the State Government,” Cr Straub said.
“This is yet another blight on the poor record of the State Government in delivering vital road infrastructure projects in regional Victoria. The section of road between Bridgewater and Marong is not good and there’s no Calder Highway passing lanes north of Bendigo.
“We’ve been promised this upgrade for years. There is just delay after delay and surely the bucket of excuses is now empty.”
A Department of Transport and Planning spokesperson said yesterday: “Planning work is well underway to build two new overtaking lanes on the Calder Highway between Marong and Bridgewater to improve traffic flow and create safer and easier journeys for all drivers.”
“The overtaking lanes are designed to boost safety for everyone by providing easier overtaking opportunities for those travelling along the Calder Highway, which is a key route for both locals and our broader agricultural industry.”
A new southbound overtaking lane is planned for the Calder Highway, between Gath Road and Connors Road in Derby. A second northbound overtaking lane is also planned on the Calder Highway, between Yorkshire Road and Houliston Road in Leichhardt.
The department says project plans are going through environmental approvals. “More information on timing will be available in the coming months.”