General News
12 October, 2022
Road deteriorates, but improvement signalled
POTHOLES on Terang-Mortlake Road have raised eyebrows in the community after recent maintenance works deteriorated in wet weather.
POTHOLES on Terang-Mortlake Road have raised eyebrows in the community after recent maintenance works deteriorated in wet weather.
Department of Transport regional director Barwon South West Michael Tudball acknowledged potholes had emerged on Terang-Mortlake Road, which he attributed to the conditions.
“Our team regularly inspects Terang-Mortlake Road and over the past month the heavy rain has caused potholes to emerge,” he said.
“Periods of above average rainfall, such as we areexperiencing now as a result of La Nina, can cause more potholes to develop on our roads, which is why we have our crews out inspecting every kilometre of our road network on a regular basis, identifying and repairing hazards if and when they do occur.
“During the warmer months, when we carry out the majority of our proactive maintenance work, we deliver hundreds of kilometres of resurfacing and sealing work, which helps to safeguard against water damage and extend the lifespan of our roads.”
A $780 million investment in maintaining the state’s road assets in the 2022/23 Victorian State Budget has been tipped to provide a boost, and allow crews to carry out maintenance works, including hundreds of kilometres of resurfacing and sealing works, in the coming months.
A Department of Transport spokesperson said major road maintenance works had begun in September and would be delivered through to June, as weather conditions are favourable.
Major rebuilding and resurfacing works require warmer, dry conditions to be delivered without risk of failure. During winter, the focus shifts to routine maintenance, with an emphasis on fixing potholes or minor pavement failures.
“Potholes on arterial roads are typically repaired within 24 hours of being reported by our crews or members of the public.” the spokesperson said.
Members of the community who come across potholes or any other damage on roads are encouraged to report issues to the Department of Transport customer service hotline on 13 11 71.
More than 160 individual projects will be delivered across the Barwon South West region as part of the 2022/23 regional road maintenance blitz.
One of the largest road rebuilds will occur along the Hamilton Highway, which includes a significant 3.5km maintenance project between Six Mile Lane and Eight Mile Lane at Mortlake