Even though additional funding for local road maintenance was welcomed last week by Member for Indi, Helen Haines, and she said it must be made available as a matter of urgency.

A case in point is the Murray Valley Highway between Corryong and Wodonga where motorists continue to face delays at two locations near Old Tallangatta where traffic lights have been installed and one lane closed where subsidence has occurred.

One set of traffic lights has been in operation for more than a year while the other was put in place earlier this year.

No remedial work had been undertaken in the meantime.

An enquiry by the Corryong Courier about planned works at the two sites drew the following response from Anthony Judd, Executive Director (Hume), Department of Transport and Planning.

“Five culvert sites have been identified where works are required due to slippage and road damage caused by ongoing wet conditions – the Murray Valley Highway, Myrtleford-Yackandandah Road and Shelley-Walwa Road.

“Following on from 2022 floods and one of the wettest years in Victoria’s history, we’re getting on with repairing unprecedented levels of damage caused to our road network,” Mr Judd said.

“Two culvert sites along the Murray Valley Highway at Tallangatta East require the installation of new reinforced concrete pipes, reconstruction of the shoulder and additional drainage repairs and roadworks.

“These works are expected to start in early 2024 and road safety measures including a speed reduction to 40km/h will remain in place until its completion.

We encourage road users to obey the speed limit and traffic light-controlled lane closures in place.

“On the Shelley- Walwa Road, planned works include reinstatement of the concrete pipe at each site, shoulder reconstruction with rockfill, drainage works and associated roadworks.”

Works are expected to begin in February 2024 and be completed across the five sites by June 2024, weather permitting.

During works there will be lane closures and speed reductions in place at times.

“Please follow the direction of on-site traffic management, plan ahead and allow extra time,” Mr Judd advised.

“We thank the community for their patience while we undertake these vital works and we will continue to keep the community informed.”

Updates on each of the sites as they are progressed will be provided online at https://regionalroads.vic.gov.au/

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 30 November 2023.