General News
1 March, 2025
Department promises end to long wait on highway overtaking lanes
CALDER Highway motorists can expect to see crews constructing overtaking lanes at Derby this year ... five years after the project’s promised finish date. Department of Transport and Planning executive director Anthony Judd has confirmed the start...
CALDER Highway motorists can expect to see crews constructing overtaking lanes at Derby this year ... five years after the project’s promised finish date.
Department of Transport and Planning executive director Anthony Judd has confirmed the start time.
The first overtaking lanes on the highway north of Bendigo were put on the backburner when the Federal Government started a protracted review of infrastructure projects.
Funding of the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative is being funded by the Federal and State Government.
And Mr Judd said a new pedestrian crossing will be built in the centre of Wedderburn this year after a $2.5 million commitment in last year’s Victorian Budget.
A community campaign petitioned the Government for pedestrian lights to improve safety on the Calder Highway through Wedderburn travelled by an estimated 3800 vehicles each day.
According to the department, this level of traffic, which includes a high number of trucks and other heavy vehicles, means that pedestrians often struggle to choose gaps in traffic and cross safely, with near-misses often reported. “A new pedestrian-operated signal crossing will provide a clearer and safer pathway across this highway for the many people using businesses in the town’s centre,” the department said.
Mr Judd said: “Works on both of these projects are set to begin this year and we will let the community know when they can expect to see crews in their areas.”