ROAD MAINTENANCE remains a critical concern with neglected wire rope safety barriers posing a growing threat to motorists. Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has called out the State Government for failing to maintain wire rope safety barriers.
Ms Lovell has urged Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, to take immediate action to repair damaged barriers on the Hume Freeway, Midland Highway and Goulburn Valley Highway.
Installed at considerable expense, these barriers were touted as essential for reducing fatalities on rural and regional roads. However, their maintenance has been severely neglected.
“Safety barriers will only remain effective if they are maintained, but the Labor government has fallen well behind on barrier maintenance,” said Ms Lovell.
On the Midland Hwy between Mooroopna and Byrneside, large sections of wire rope have been lying on the ground since before Christmas. In other places, the wire rope is acting as a trellis for gum trees that have taken hold and overgrown the barriers. Without attention, Ms Lovell said the trees will undermine and damage the barriers.
She said one local road user counted 50 sections with detached or broken safety wire rope along the Hume Freeway from Benalla to Seymour. The VicRoads Road Management Plan requires a response to missing or broken safety barriers on major regional roads within 30 days, to either repair them or set up a warning, but many have reported barriers down for months, and nothing has been done.
“The Minister for Roads and Road Safety must urgently order a survey of wire rope safety barriers and implement a program of repair as soon as possible,” said Ms Lovell.
If you have information or photos regarding failed dilapidated roads and safety barriers, we invite you to share them with us. Email editorial@sheppartonadviser.com.au or visit our Facebook page to provide your input and contribute to raising awareness about this critical issue.
