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Essential maintenance works on the Great Alpine Road this month will help maintain this vital High Country connection and safeguard it from frost damage next winter.
Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) North Eastern Regional Director Steve Bowmaker said works at two sites near Mount Hotham will require two planned road closures, with emergency services access maintained.
“We understand these closures are inconvenient following recent bushfires, but the road surface at both sites is severely damaged and won’t withstand another winter,” Mr Bowmaker said.
“February is the best time for us to work in the Alpine regions, when there’s still enough residual warmth in the road pavement and before cooler temperatures prevent us from being able to asphalt.”
The Great Alpine Road is a key tourism and freight route linking Wangaratta in the north east of the state to Bairnsdale and the Gippsland Lakes in south east Victoria.
As the highest sealed road in Australia it experiences the most extreme weather conditions, from the heat during summer to freezing in winter.
“Key to maintaining the Great Alpine Road is ensuring adequate drainage and frost protection – a major focus of these upcoming works,” Mr Bowmaker said.
“The road will be smoother and safer on completion and help prevent unplanned closures during the ski season.”
Works commence from Monday, February 24, on a 250-metre section at Dinner Plain, with one lane open under traffic management and short delays of between five to 10 minutes.
The Great Alpine Road will then close at Dinner Plain from 7am to midday for road sealing works on Thursday, 5 March.
Works will continue on a 1.4km section at Slatey Cutting on Monday, March 2, where a further closure is scheduled for sealing from 7am to 2pm on Monday, March 16.
“We thank the community for their patience while these essential maintenance works are undertaken,” said Mr Bowmaker.
The closures are weather dependent and could change without notice – for up to the minute traffic information download the VicTraffic app or visit https://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/.
To learn more about road improvement works taking place in your area, head to regionalroads.vic.gov.au
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