Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Northern Victoria Region

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:48): (878) My constituency question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. For the last seven months the Goulburn Valley Highway at Koonoomoo has been reduced to one lane with traffic lights after a truck crashed into the bridge barriers. This section of the highway carries hundreds of cars, trucks and buses between New South Wales and major northern Victorian towns such as Cobram, Yarrawonga and Shepparton. The residents have been frustrated by the delay in repairing this bridge – seven months is completely unacceptable. Koonoomoo is a tourist hotspot along the Murray River, and the delays cause frustration and anger for visitors and locals alike. While the traffic lights help ease congestion, locals and police are concerned that the lights have been malfunctioning, and this has caused yet another accident. VicRoads has told constituents that it could be three or more months until new barriers are designed and installed. My constituents ask the minister: why has it taken so long for these repairs to be started, and when can they expect the repairs to be completed?