The Western Highway is the major road link between Melbourne and Adelaide. Farming, grain production, regional tourism and a range of manufacturing services rely heavily on this highway.
The safety of the travelling public is our priority.
In the 10 years to March 2026, there have been 158 crashes on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell, including 22 fatalities, and 92 people seriously injured, which is why it is vital for the safety of the community that this road is upgraded.
Since 2013, we have upgraded 55km of the Western Highway between Ballarat and Buangor.
Upgrades to the section of highway between Buangor and Ararat will further improve safety, reducing the risk of crashes by adding extra lanes, separating the east and westbound lanes, and installing safety barriers. These improvements will also make travel times more reliable.