The Victorian and Federal Governments have hailed the progress being made on the ongoing duplication work of the Princes Highway with the opening of a new section between Wurruk and Sale.

 

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, said that opening of the section would pave the way for future works on the highway.

 

"From today, as part of the staging of works, traffic will be diverted onto the new section between Settlement Road, Wurruk and the Visitor Information Centre at Sale," Mr Albanese said.

 

"All traffic will be transferred to the new highway south of the existing alignment where there will be one lane in each direction. This diversion will remain in place until the existing alignment is finished."

 

Victorian Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said as the primary route between Melbourne and Gippsland, the Princes Highway plays a vital role is supporting local tourism and service industries as well as access to the RAAF base at Sale.

 

"In regional Victoria our major highways are more than transport links; they connect communities, support jobs and drive regional growth," Mr Mulder said

 

This $175 million project to duplicate sections of the Princes Highway from Traralgon to Sale is jointly funded by the Australian ($140 million) and Victorian Governments ($35 million).