MILLIONS of dollars of repairs to North East roads damaged by flooding events is set to commence in the coming weeks, as Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) enters the next phase of its flood recovery program.
More than half of the state's $89.8m statewide program will be funneled into the Hume Region, with $45m to be set aside for major works on the Hume and Goulburn Valley freeways, as well as the Midland, Melba and Murray Valley highways.
Some $8.6m worth of work is set to be completed along the Hume Freeway, with a particular focus on areas near Euroa, Violet Town, Avenel, Benalla and Wodonga, while $2m will be dedicated to works along Beechworth–Wodonga Road.
The Great Alpine Road at Tarrawingee, Wangaratta, East Wangaratta and Smoko will also undergo repairs under the initiative, as part of efforts to repair the region's busiest and most important freight and travel routes, according to RRV regional director (Hume), Steve Bowmaker.
"Our immediate response has focused on delivering short–term emergency repairs to get roads re–opened as soon as possible – now we're turning our attention towards the first stage of longer–term, larger–scale repairs," he said.
"Anyone who's seen the damage inflicted on our roads first–hand knows that we have a lengthy recovery program ahead of us, and this is just the first step in that process.
"This first package of works is about repairing those roads that are unsafe in the wake of floods and keeping communities connected to vital supplies and services."
Repair works will include rebuilding and rehabilitation works, asphalt patching, structural repairs, clearing and fixing damaged roadside drains and culverts, stabilizing landslips and clearing roadside debris.
Since October 13, more than 500 workers across the state have patched just shy of 80,000 potholes.
