Victoria, Australia Allocates Additional $352 Million for Road Repairs in 2026

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Victorian Government has announced an additional $352 million in road repair funding, planning to double the number of potholes repaired this year from 250,000 to 500,000, complete safety upgrades on the Goulburn Valley Highway, and appoint Fiona Adamson as Secretary of the Department of Transport and Planning.

This additional funding will be available for the upcoming road repair season. With rainfall easing, repair work is expected to accelerate, with most pothole repairs scheduled for the second half of 2026 and the following January. Crews will prioritise major freight and passenger routes, with four routes explicitly designated: the Geelong Ring Road, Western Highway, Calder Highway, and Princes Highway. These corridors carry significant commercial traffic, and road surface deterioration could lead to poorer driving conditions, reduced speeds, and increased wear for heavy vehicles. The announcement did not specify the amount allocated to each road.

Heavy vehicles are particularly sensitive to road conditions due to their long travel distances and heavy loads. Potholes and damaged road surfaces can force drivers to slow down or change routes, and repeated impacts can also cause tyre, suspension, and other vehicle maintenance issues. The Western Highway, Calder Highway, and Princes Highway are Victoria's major interregional freight corridors, and accelerating maintenance on these sections will directly impact operators transporting goods between Melbourne, regional Victoria, and interstate markets. Victoria's Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Paul Hamer, stated that the state is expanding its repair program with the goal of repairing 500,000 potholes this year. The announcement did not specify how pothole repairs are counted or the target allocation between metropolitan and regional roads.

In terms of funding sources, part of the money comes from savings in other areas of infrastructure projects. By delaying the completion of three level crossing removal projects—Highett Road and Wickham Road in Highett, and Latrobe Street in Mentone—by one year, the government has identified $112 million in budget forward estimate savings, with these projects now expected to be completed in 2033 rather than 2032. The government also made reference to savings from other projects mentioned above.

The road maintenance funding is separate from the completed intersection upgrades in Shepparton. The Goulburn Valley Highway safety upgrade has been completed at the Graham Street and Hayes Street intersections in Shepparton, with the Australian Government and the Victorian Government each contributing $4.67 million, for a total project cost of $9.34 million. The works include new traffic and pedestrian signals, signal-controlled turning lanes, and improved lighting. A raised pedestrian crossing was built on the service road on the western side of the highway at Graham Street to improve access to the medical precinct, while a raised safety platform was installed at Hayes Street to improve visibility and reduce vehicle speeds near the Victoria Park Lake area. These projects are part of the Greater Shepparton City Council's strategic bicycle corridor.

The Goulburn Valley Highway is a key regional road route running through northern Victoria. The completed works are primarily safety and local access improvements rather than freight capacity expansion. Signal-controlled turning movements may affect how heavy vehicles interact with local traffic at busy intersections, and improved lighting and clearer intersection paths are also expected to reduce conflicts between through traffic and vehicles entering or exiting surrounding streets. Paul Hamer stated that these improvements aim to provide a safer, smoother route through Shepparton. The announcement did not mention any changes to heavy vehicle access, load limits, or route classifications.

Fiona Adamson took up the role of Secretary of the Department of Transport and Planning on 28 August. She previously served as Deputy Secretary of Transport Services within the department, with responsibilities covering public transport, road infrastructure, network operations, and customer experience. After a 15-year commercial career at Foxtel, she also held senior management roles at Public Transport Victoria and Transport for Victoria. Her department is responsible for day-to-day transport network operations, as well as major infrastructure, planning, housing, and development functions. Adamson succeeds Jeroen Weimar, who became Secretary of the Department of Transport and Planning in January 2025, having previously held public sector roles including Head of Transport Services, Chief Executive of VicRoads, and Chief Executive of Public Transport Victoria.