THE results of the Victorian Opposition’s survey to find Victoria’s top 10 worst roads are in, with two local roads making the cut – the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road at number six and the Princes Highway at number two.
The Liberals and Nationals began the campaign in April to highlight the deplorable state of Victoria’s roads right across the state and received thousands of votes from angry drivers.
The Great Alpine Road between Bairnsdale in East Gippsland and Wangaratta in north-east Victoria has taken out the less-than-coveted top spot by a significant margin for its sharp drops, landslips, speed reductions and regular closures, because of its crumbling surface.
However, locally, the Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road has long been the subject of a campaign by residents and MPs to be properly funded and fixed.
South West Coast MP, Roma Britnell, raised its appalling condition again during the latest sitting of Parliament.
“Over the past couple of weeks I have again been inundated with feedback from local residents and road users saying the condition of Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road is the worst they’ve ever seen it,” Ms Britnell said.
“It is sheer luck there has not been a serious accident on the road over this winter period.
“Road users in South West Coast should not have to play Russian Roulette with their lives while driving on rural roads, particularly a major freight link like Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road.
“No one who has driven Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road would be surprised it has been voted as one of the worst in regional Victoria.
“Sadly, dangerous and crumbling roads are the norm in many parts of the electorate.
“I am getting calls and emails literally every day from constituents concerned about the condition of our roads, yet the minister and this government continue to show a complete lack of interest in actually fixing our roads and fixing them properly.”
Hamilton’s Tash Franko has been campaigning to have local roads fixed for several years and is the administrator of the Facebook page ‘Fix Our Rural Roads’.
The ABC contacted Ms Franko asking for her reaction to the roads list she but also spoke to The Spectator and had this to say.
“There’s no point narrowing it down when they’re all s***,” she said.
“How much more damage to vehicles or how many people have to die on the roads before something is done?”
“Everyone has been trying to point them out for the last 15-20 years.
“Every time there is an election coming, suddenly the roads become the issue – they promise to fix this and fix that, but then nothing.
“All (VicRoads) do is put up rough surface signs and reduce the speed limit.
“There was a public meeting in about 2017 in Warrnambool, with someone from VicRoads and Jaala Pulford, but nothing came of it.”
The top 10 worst roads voted in Victoria:
Shadow Roads minister, Danny O’Brien, said the poll results would be forwarded to Roads minister, Ben Carroll, to highlight Labor’s failures.
