Federal backing for new limit
A SPEED limit change along the Princes Freeway between Werribee and Winchelsea is gaining support at a federal level.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson has backed a localised Coalition push to raise the speed limit from 100km/h to 110km/h.
It comes as state Roads Minister Luke Donnellan confirmed VicRoads would conduct a speed limit review of the freeway and Geelong Ring Road after the installation of safety barriers.
“I would like to see the speed limit increase to 110km/h providing there are no safety issues,” Ms Henderson said.
“I am extremely concerned, for instance, about the intersection of Cape Otway Rd and Princes Highway where there have been a number of terrible accidents.
“This intersection is poorly designed and dangerous and must be fixed.”
More than 35km of modern dual carriageway runs through Ms Henderson’s electorate, from Lewis Bandt Bridge at Fyansford to Winchelsea.
A further 37km of highway is currently being duplicated between Winchelsea and Colac in a federal-state $363 million initiative.
Corangamite Labor candidate Libby Coker said the review needed to weigh up the benefits of a speed increase with improved safety measures.
“A review is a step in the right direction because the freeways to Ballarat and Bendigo are set at 110km/h and there’s been interest in the community for this to be looked at,” Ms Coker said.
“Having said that, I am very concerned about the safety of several intersections such as Cape Otway Rd and work needs to be done to improve these crossings before any speed limit change is considered. Rumble strips and improved signage may be options.”
More than 80 per cent of respondents to a questionnaire commissioned by South Barwon MP Andrew Katos supported the limit change, with the findings released this week.
However, both the Labor Government and Coalition Opposition are yet to commit to any speed limit change ahead of the November state election.
Both the Geelong Ring Road and the Princes Highway between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea are less than a decade old, leading the RACV to call for the speed limit rise along the thoroughfares.