110km/h zone in slow lane
OPPOSITION HITS OUT AS LABOR’S SPEED LIMIT REVIEW STALLS
PRESSURE is growing on the State Roads Minister to complete a review into the 110km/h speed limit along the Princes Highway.
In August 2017, Luke Donnellan announced a review into the speed limit between Werribee and Winchelsea.
Mr Donnellan linked the review to the installation of wire-rope barriers between Corio and Maltby bypass.
In the meantime, Opposition roads spokesman David Hodgett beat state Labor to the punch with an election commitment to raise the speed limit along freeway between Corio and Werribee.
Mr Hodgett challenged the Roads Minister to show his hand on the 110km/h debate, saying 10 months was long enough to form a decision.
“Labor should stop ignoring the Geelong community, who for years have been campaigning for an adjustment to the speed limit along the Princes Highway to enable quicker journey times,” the Coalition roads spokesman said. “It can be done safely, and therefore the Coalition has listened — why won’t Daniel Andrews?”
When asked by the Geelong Advertiser this week, the Roads Minister declined to give a specific date as to when the review will be completed and a decision made on the speed limit.
“David Hodgett should be listening to the experts, rather than B-grade kooks like Andrew Katos,” Mr Donnellan said “Before we consider any increase to the speed limit, especially on a heavily-trafficked, multi-lane route like the Princes Highway, we have to make sure it’s safe — people’s lives are at stake.
“We’ve always said, once flexible safety barriers are installed VicRoads will conduct a review of the speed limit for the Princes Highway.”
The installation of flexible safety barriers is expected to be finished mid-year.
For many years, Highton motorist Barry Hawkins com- muted on the freeway to Melbourne.
He said freeways to Ballarat, Bendigo and Albury all enjoyed 110km/h limits and questioned why Geelong was overlooked.
“It may save only a couple of minutes each way but add that up over time. If you’re travelling every day to work, five days a week for most weeks of the year — that’s a lot of time saved in the long run,” Mr Hawkins said.
“I really can’t understand why (Premier) Daniel Andrews hasn’t changed the speed limit. Maybe it’s because he hardly ever drives down to Geelong.”
A survey into the 110km/h issue was commissioned by South Barwon MP Andrew Katos last year. More than 80 per cent of respondents sup- ported lifting the speed limit to 110km/h between Winchelsea and Werribee.
But the Coalition’s policy currently only covers Werribee-Corio, despite support from MPs Simon Ramsay, Richard Riordan and Mr Katos to extend the zone along the Geelong Ring Road to Winchelsea.
Duplication of the Princes Highway is currently under way between Winchelsea and Colac, with civic leaders in that district also keen to see the limit at 110km/h once the project is completed next year.
“At this stage, we have committed to adjusting the speed limit between Werribee and Corio, yet, going forward, we are open to examining any potential extensions subject to advice from relevant road safety authorities or bodies,” Mr Hodgett said.