The duplication has been a $40.55 million project funded by the Australian Government as part of its Auslink Program. The works involved the duplication of 11km of the existing Goulburn Valley Highway between the Murchison East deviation and the proposed Shepparton Bypass, just north of Ross Road.
Start Date: June 2006
Completion Date: June 2008
Cost: $40.55 million funded by the Australian Government
Project Report
Project Features & Benefits
Managing the Environment
Involving the Community
Protecting our Cultural Heritage
More Information
On 2 February 2006, the Federal Treasurer Mr Peter Costello announced that the Australian Government has increased funding to the Goulburn Valley Highway by $38.5 million to enable construction to commence on the Arcadia Duplication. The total funding for the project amounts to $40.55 million.
The Contract had been awarded to Cut N' Fill and construction works commenced in June 2006.
The new carriageways are now open to traffic. The duplication was officially opened in June 2008 by the Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas
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The project involved duplicating the existing highway on the west side, starting just north of the Murchison-Violet Town Road and ending north of Ross/Karramomus Road. It will link the northern end of the Murchison East Deviation to the southern end of the proposed Shepparton Bypass, a distance of 11 kilometres.
The highway will carry an estimated 6,500 vehicles per day, including more than 2,000 commercial vehicles. The freeway will cut travel time and significantly improve the safety of this section of the Goulburn Valley Highway.
It will incorporate four at-grade intersections, frontage access roads, a rest area with full facilities, and installation of wire rope safety barriers.
The Arcadia section runs adjacent to the Calder Woodburn Memorial Avenue of Honour. A Conservation Management Plan has been developed in consultation with Heritage Victoria to ensure that impact on the significant Calder Woodburn Memorial Avenue of Honour is minimised. The plans included measures to enhance and highlight the avenue of trees.
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A Project Environmental Protection Strategy has been developed to identify the potential impacts of the project and describe the proposed environmental protection and mitigation measures that VicRoads are undertaking. Issues considered include the potential effects of a new road on flora, fauna and cultural heritage, as well as dust, noise and related social impacts on neighbouring communities. This strategy was used by the contractor to develop specific environmental management plans for each stage of the works.
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To ensure the project will provide real benefit to the community, it is important that input is received from the local community itself. Community consultation activities will be undertaken to involve and consult with stakeholders including residents, community groups, special interest groups and businesses.
A Community Liaison Group (CLG) has been established as one avenue for community involvement. The group provides a local resident and business perspective, to ensure that public issues and concerns are consistently understood and considered, and to provide a forum for information sharing.
The CLG comprises local residents, representatives from local special interest groups, and representatives from the City of Greater Shepparton, Shire of Strathbogie, other Government agencies and VicRoads. Up to 12 suitable candidates have been chosen by VicRoads.
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Cultural heritage is an important issue in road planning and construction. Where items or areas of cultural or historical significance are impacted by construction, VicRoads has a number of measures in place to ensure these important community assets are protected or salvaged. These measures include:
Cultural Heritage Assessments: numerous studies are completed during the Environmental Effects Statement and during pre-construction to identify areas of cultural significance.
Stakeholder Involvement: continue to consult, negotiate and involve cultural heritage stakeholders.
Protocols: abide by the indigenous cultural heritage protocols developed in-conjunction with local Aboriginal organisations. The agreement under development for the Project section saw local indigenous monitors present onsite during critical phases of the construction work, to ensure the identification and protection of items of indigenous cultural significance.
Approvals: Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and Heritage Victoria grants permits for works that may affect or disturb registered sites. The conditions of approvals are incorporated into contract specifications.
Contractor Awareness: ensure contractors are aware of cultural heritage issues through the Project Environmental Project Strategy (PEPS), and that all cultural heritage sites to be protected during construction are fenced appropriately.
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Members of the public are welcome to visit the VicRoads Office at 50-52 Clarke Street, Benalla for information on the Arcadia Duplication. The office is open between the hours of 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, to view project plans and discuss issues with Project Staff; or you can
- call VicRoads on (03)5761 1872;
- write to the Project Manager, Goulburn Valley Highway Project, Post Office Box 135, Benalla.
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