The Western Highway is a vital freight and tourist route between Melbourne and Adelaide. In Horsham a 6.5 kilometre section of the highway passes through residential and commercial areas and carries significant volumes of heavy vehicle traffic.
It is anticipated that Horsham will continue to grow as the major population, business and employment centre for the Wimmera region.
This growth will see an increase in the volume of car and freight traffic through the centre of Horsham. This will significantly impact on the businesses and residences along the current route and slow the passage of freight.
VicRoads has commissioned a planning study in order to recommend a preferred route alignment for a future Western Highway bypass of Horsham in order to address these issues.
Although construction on the road is not expected to start for some time, a preferred route is being identified now so that the land required for the construction of the bypass can be reserved in the Horsham Planning Scheme.
The planning study is being undertaken in phases.
Phase one of the study was completed in 2009 and provided broad analysis of 14 possible route options. Phase two of the study is now underway and is being undertaken by AECOM.
AECOM consultants completed preliminary technical studies in mid 2011 and short¬listed five possible route options for more detailed investigation.
Of these options, Option A2 has been eliminated based on community feedback and the inability to mitigate social impacts of the option.
VicRoads has endorsed the further development and detailed investigations of four options - Option 11, Option 12, Option B2 and Option 5A.
For information on the revised options please refer to:
Horsham Bypass Planning Study route options [Word,530KB,2pp]
Horsham Bypass Planning Study information bulletin [Word,469KB,3pp]
Option B2 [PDF,3.33MB,pp1]
Option 5a [PDF,3.38MB,pp1]
Option 11 [PDF,3.38MB,pp1]
Option 12 [PDF,3.38MB,pp1]
The next stage of the study includes detailed field investigations and the development of concept designs for these four alignment options. This is to determine which option or options is/are the most feasible after examining the information contained in the specialist studies.
The detailed studies will examine:
- Traffic impacts
- Environmental impacts
- Social and economic impact
- Hydrogeology and hydrodynamics
- Land use planning
- Agricultural assessment
Once the detailed investigations and concept designs have been completed VicRoads will undertake further community consultation on a preferred option.
Project information is on display at the Horsham VicRoads office, 14 O’Callaghans Parade, Horsham.
Options developed will ultimately be subject to a formal Planning Scheme Amendment process, expected to take place in early to mid 2012. This process will provide further opportunities for public consultation.
- Outdated information has been removed from this webpage including:
- Horsham Bypass Planning Study information bulletin - June 2011
- Horsham Bypass route options to be further investigated AECOM summary document
- Horsham Bypass DRAFT AECOM full report route options to be further investigated
- All (5) short¬listed options aerial map
If you would like a copy of this information, please contact VicRoads on the details provided below..