A notoriously dangerous stretch of road at Mickleham is set for an upgrade.
Yuroke MP Ros Spence says $5 million will be spent making Mickleham Road safer for motorists.
Wire rope safety barriers and a guard fence will be installed along a 13-kilometre stretch of the road through Mickleham, Greenvale and Craigieburn.
The speed limit will also be reduced from 100 to 80 kilometres per hour.
VicRoads statistics show that in the five years to June 2013, there were 27 casualty crashes along this section of road, 13 of which were run-off-the-road crashes, six resulting in serious injury.
The roundabout at the intersection of Mickleham and Craigieburn roads will also be upgraded. Lighting will be improved, the road’s centre and edge lines will be made more prominent, and roadside hazards, such as trees and drains, will be removed.
Funding will come from the Safe System Road Infrastructure Program, via the Transport Accident Commission.
Ms Spence says the project is expected to start late this year and take about nine months.
Together with seven neighbouring northern councils, Hume council is lobbying the Victorian and federal governments to fund the duplication of Mickleham Road between Somerton and Craigieburn roads by 2021. The councils also want a new lane on Mickleham Road before 2031.
Lexi Cottee
