THE Muntham stretch of the Glenelg Highway is finally getting a long-awaited redevelopment, after years of campaigning and criticism over the management of one of the region’s most problematic roads.

Contractors began work on the Muntham Hill last Tuesday, starting with the Casterton-bound lane being completely closed off to be rebuilt.

For the next three months, the 2.3-kilometre stretch of road from the Wennicott Creek bridge to the truck stops at the top of the hill, is to be completely overhauled with a new surface.

However, it does mean lengthy disruptions for motorists passing through, with long waits at the traffic stops either end and speed limits of 40 kilometres per hour in place.

The general message from contractors is one of patience and a reminder for motorists to keep to the speed limit when passing through the roadworks area.

Other roadworks on the western side of Coleraine appear to be nearly complete, however as of Sunday some missing shoulders still posed a hazard for drivers passing through.

The works, between Balochile Road and Coleraine-Balmoral Road, started in October and according to Regional Roads Victoria, had been expected to be finished by late December.

After years of strife

THE last major works on Muntham Hill date back to 2011, after heavy rains caused multiple landslips along the road and left safety rails hanging mid-air.

Prior to the rehabilitation works, regular reports in both the Casterton News and Hamilton Spectator highlighted the dilapidated nature of the Muntham stretch of the highway.

In 2010, it was noted to have been “conspicuously absent” from a $10 million government package for Victorian roads, although the following year’s works made up just over $1 million out of another $10 million package.

VicRoads had defended its works on the highway – despite admitting it had not started a project at the Coleraine-Edenhope Road intersection previously marked as complete – and promised a further $935,000 in works on sections between Featherstonhaugh Road and Muntham Hill and between Carapook Road and Phoines Road.

Reports also highlighted repairs made by VicRoads workers falling apart the day after they were implemented and hazard signs being placed near areas that had previously had patch jobs.

Similar issues were reported in 2022 as Hamilton advocate, Jason Bendeich, called out a lack of proper maintenance on the highway which was resulting in potholes and crumbling shoulders.

Through seven years of campaigning for the highway, he had sent several letters and photos to Government and Opposition MPs to call for a large-scale fix on the highway, rather than band-aid solutions and minor patch-ups of potholes which were “only as good as the next downpour of rain”.

“The Government talks about inclusion – it includes making sure we’ve got good roads to drive on,” Mr Bendeich had said.

“The roads are just not lasting – we’re not getting value as taxpayers.”

Despite its several issues, the Glenelg Highway had regularly missed out on targeted funding in State Budgets and roads funding packages.

It was identified as one of the worst roads in Victoria’s south-west last year during a State Opposition campaign highlighting crumbling rural roads across the state.