Question details
Morwell electorate
(648) My question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and the information I seek is for the minister to explain when there will be workers returning to finally finish the Latrobe River bridge at Tyers. The community has lobbied tirelessly for decades for the new bridge to be built, which was at long last due to be finished in December 2023, but we are still waiting for the job to be done properly. For nearly three months there have been no workers on site to install permanent barriers, the speed limit is still restricted to 40 kilometres per hour and my office has been inundated with questions about what is happening. Regional Roads Victoria recently updated its website to advise these works will be finished at the end of May. The end of May is two weeks away and there is no sign of any works. I wrote to the minister last month requesting an urgent update but have not received a reply. The Latrobe Valley community is sick of being dudded by this government, and I ask the minister to explain when the Tyers bridge will be finished.
I thank the Member for Morwell for his question.
Rectification is required on the bridge kerb before the bridge barriers can be fully secured to this kerb to the Department of Transport and Planning’s quality and safety standards. The proposed bridge kerb rectification treatment has now been verified and works re-commenced in May.
The current 40km/h speed limit with temporary barriers will remain in place over the bridge while this work is completed to ensure the safety of all road users and workers. The speed limit will return to 80km/h once the ultimate bridge barrier installation is completed, now anticipated in mid-2024.
Hon Melissa Horne MP
Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Roads and Road Safety
Minister for Ports and Freight