Road maintenance by VicRoads

VicRoads is responsible for the overall management (including construction, maintenance, inspection and repair) of a network of around 23,000 kilometres of freeways and arterial roads (the major connecting roads) throughout Victoria.

This network of freeways and arterial roads is maintained by VicRoads to ensure the safe and efficient movement of all traffic, including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. 

The remaining roads within the State (around 150,000 kilometres) are mostly managed by the relevant municipal council.  

Further information about the specific roads for which VicRoads is responsible is available:

• by using the on-line Maps of Declared Roads; or
• by viewing the Victoria’s road network page.

What is VicRoads responsible for maintaining?

• freeways (other than CityLink, EastLink and Peninsula Link, which are privately operated)
• arterial roads (other than pathways, service roads and roadsides in urban areas, which are the responsibility of the relevant municipal council)

Further information on the allocation of responsibilities between VicRoads and municipal councils on arterial roads can be found in the Codes of practice under the Road Management Act.

How does VicRoads  maintain its roadways and roadsides? 

VicRoads maintenance activities for the roadways and roadsides for which it is responsible are conducted in accordance with its annual maintenance program. This program is focused on achieving established maintenance standards and road infrastructure performance targets at the lowest life cycle cost.
The maintenance program comprises three components:

• Routine maintenance – addresses minor defects before significant deterioration occurs and ensures road user safety. Typically, this involves repairing potholes, cleaning culverts and drains, repairing damaged signs and clearing litter.
• Periodic maintenance – is more substantial work (sometimes referred to as asset preservation) designed to prevent deterioration of road infrastructure at minimum cost. Typical examples of periodic work include road resurfacing and corrosion protection for bridges.
• Rehabilitation – restores road infrastructure that has deteriorated and is providing a reduced level of service. These are more expensive repairs that will extend the service life of the road.

VicRoads generally uses contractors to manage the delivery of its maintenance program, with the maintenance activities performed in accordance with maintenance standards and inspection plans.

How does VicRoads respond to hazards on its roads? 

Certain road conditions are considered to represent a potential hazard to the safety of road users, such as larger sized potholes or surface defects, obstructions and substances in traffic lanes, roadside vegetation restricting sight distance, damaged road bridges and traffic signal failure.

To address these potential hazards, VicRoads has developed a Road Management Plan that defines certain road hazards (and intervention levels) and sets out VicRoads hazard inspection frequencies and response times to rectify (or provide appropriate warnings of) higher risk road hazards. The hazard type and severity and the category of road determine the time allowed for VicRoads to respond.

The Road Management Plan describes VicRoads:

• Road Infrastructure Management System (Schedule A in the Plan); and
• Road Maintenance Standards (Schedule B in the Plan) 

For more information on hazard inspection frequencies, response times and actions in response to the identified hazards, please refer to the VicRoads Road Management Plan. 

How do I report a road hazard?

For road hazards that are urgent and present an immediate danger, call 13 11 70. 

For other road issues that do not preset an immediate danger (such as faded linemarking, small potholes or fallen signage) please follow the link if you wish to report a road issue.