The Victorian Department of Transport decision to replace temporary signs that were overgrown by roadside vegetation with permanent versions has drawn widespread criticism from regular users of the road.
Some temporary signs remain in the lead-up to the permanent 60km/h speed limit signs; in fact, if you are travelling from Kyabram you will encounter the temporary signs before the speed limit returns to 100km/h and then reverts to 60km/h a further 100m along the road.
Commuters from Kyabram travel the road on a daily basis, while others regularly use the most accessible roadway to the Campaspe Shire headquarters for education, medical and shopping requirements.
The Kyabram-bound lane has significantly more damage than the Echuca-bound lane, with the stretch of damaged road between the Tehan Rd and O’Dea Rd intersections.
It continues a significant change to speed limits on the road that connects the two towns, as the western entrance to Kyabram has also had an extensive reduction to the entry speed into the town.
It is, however, McKenzie Rd that has riled motorists, as they are forced to hit the brakes en route to Echuca for an ongoing period.
The pre-flood damage to the roadway is minor at best, and is probably not indicative of the 6km stretch of reduced speed roadway.
The permanent rough surface and road hazard signs are also in place on a stretch of Rochester-Corop Rd where the same scenario has evolved. Permanent road hazard signs — reducing the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h — have replaced temporary signs that were in place on the road for some time.
State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has been recruited by disgruntled motorists to play a role in returning the stretch to 100km/h.
“The Kyabram-Echuca Rd, officially McKenzie Rd, has been ‘under repair' for an extended period — in my experience, two years — without a change to its status,” Mr Walsh said.
In April last year the state Nationals launched a three-month campaign to find Victoria’s worst roads.
Temporary signs on McKenzie Rd seem to have been ignored by most motorists out of habit (motorists in the know choosing to drive beyond the 60km/h) rather than be slowed for no apparent reason.
Most people could be forgiven for thinking someone had forgotten to pick up the A-frame ‘’hazard ahead’’ signage. There is no such confusion with the permanent signage.
According to one regular user of the road, motorists have been “ignoring the signs’’, as they considered the length of time allocated to the anticipated repair as ridiculous.
“It is a 6km stretch of road that has been patched here and there and has a few bumps,” the motorist said.
The same motorist said the stretch of “hazardous’’ McKenzie Rd was not as bad as some flood-affected roadways that did not have a reduced speed limit.
Mr Walsh says he wrote to Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne (on February 28) regarding the hazardous condition of the road and the length of time the 60km/h sign had been put up in what is a 100km/h zone, due to rough surfacing.
Mr Walsh has asked the minister to investigate and ensure the repair is completed so it can be converted back to a 100km/h zone.
In the meantime, it may be a good idea for motorists to be aware of the new speed limits, as mobile and stationary police vehicles are also regular users of the roadway.
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