The speed limit on the Northern Highway north of Wallan has been temporarily reduced to 60 kilometres an hour after Regional Roads Victoria determined safety upgrades are required.
However, the safety upgrades are unable to occur until there is warmer weather, meaning the road will remain limited to 60km/h for the foreseeable future.
The section of the highway is normally 80 kilometres when travelling in a northerly direction from Wallan to Hidden Valley, and 90 kilometres when travelling south towards the township of Wallan.
Sealing works required to improve the section of the Northern Highway are weather and temperature dependent – extreme cold and/or wet conditions can result in the seal deteriorating and not lasting for its anticipated life.
Regional Roads Victoria northern regional director Brian Westley said making sure roads were safe for the community was their first priority.
“Following a recent inspection our road safety experts temporarily reduced the speed limit on a section of the Northern Highway to ensure safety until improvement works can be completed when the weather warms in the coming months,” he said.
“We’ll continue monitoring the area and when weather conditions are right we’ll apply a new seal which will ensure the road surface is smoother and more durable for many years.”
A Facebook post on the Kilmore, Wallan and Local Community Page said the road had become flushed and was ‘plucking’, meaning it could become slippery.
The post said the timing of the works was dependant on contractor availability and works were anticipated to be completed by the end of February 2020.
Would it be possible to change the fixed road signs? Because with the temporary signage, it looks as if they are left-overs from recent works.