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Improvements for Australia’s Great Ocean Road

A series of safety upgrades will be introduced for Australia’s historic Great Ocean Road. The Australian Federal Government and Victoria Government are co-funding improvement works worth nearly US$40 million (A$40 million).
October 19, 2017 Read time: 1 min

A series of safety upgrades will be introduced for Australia’s historic Great Ocean Road. The Australian Federal Government and Victoria Government are co-funding improvement works worth nearly US$40 million (A$40 million). The Great Ocean Road was constructed in the inter-war period and follows the coastline very closely, with numerous twists and turns. The route is a favourite for tourist traffic due to its scenic views but the road’s many sharp turns can be treacherous for the unwary driver, with local wildlife providing an additional hazard. Collisions with kangaroos pose a particular risk at certain times of the day. The need for the safety improvements is acute as there have been 213 crashes, including all types of incidents, and six fatalities along the Great Ocean Road over the last five years. The safety improvements will include the installation of the latest types of guard rails at key danger points, as well as warning signs for drivers. A number of bridges will be upgraded while resurfacing work will be carried out on stretches of road where the surface no longer meets requirements. The work will start in 2018 and should be complete by 2022.

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