Sharp drops, landslips and speed reductions because of a crumbling road surface have earned the Great Alpine Road the title of Victoria’s worst road.
The road was awarded the less-than-coveted title from thousands of votes in the Liberals and Nationals’ worst road campaign.
The public vote to find Victoria’s most dangerous stretch of road saw the Great Alpine Road between Bairnsdale in East Gippsland and Wangaratta in north-east Victoria take home the unwelcome top spot by a significant margin.
Respondents highlighted the poor state of the road surface as well as its all-too-regular closure in recent years due to landslips.
Other roads in the top five were the Princes Highway in various locations, Melbourne-Lancefield Road, Traralgon-Maffra Road and Paynesville Road.
Shadow Minister for Roads, Danny O’Brien, said the poll results would be forwarded to Roads Minister Ben Carroll to highlight Labor’s failures.
“Labor cut the road maintenance budget by 10 per cent in its first year and has neglected our roads ever since,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It was cut by a further $24 million in this year’s budget after a $191 million cut last year.
“We’re seeing the result of these cuts in poor roads that are unsafe for drivers right around the state.
“The poor roads highlighted by Victorians include local and state-managed roads, showing the impact of Labor’s budget cuts and the axing of the Country Roads and Bridges Program for local councils.
“The Liberals and Nationals are committed to bringing back this program to fix the roads that take people home, as well as those that take them across the state.
“Labor has been in charge of our road network for 19 of the past 23 years and must take responsibility for its failures.”
The top 10 worst roads in Victoria:
1. Great Alpine Road
2. Princes Highway (various locations)
3. Melbourne-Lancefield Road
4. Traralgon-Maffra Road
5. Paynesville Road
6. Woolsthorpe-Heywood Road
7. Heathcote-Nagambie Road
8. Murray Valley Highway (various locations)
9. Western Freeway (various locations)
10. Jerusalem Creek Road
