Works have started to improve safety at the Murray Valley Highway and Naretha Street intersection in Swan Hill.
Crews are installing a raised traffic island on Naretha Street and extending the centre median on the Murray Valley Highway to stop vehicles from making through and right-turn movements at the intersection.
Naretha Street and the Murray Valley Highway will also be widened to accommodate heavy vehicle turning paths.
The works are in response to a significant crash history at the intersection.
There were seven crashes at this intersection between 2016 and 2021, with three resulting in serious injury. Five of the collisions involved drivers failing to give way to vehicles on the highway.
The $511,000 works are fully funded through the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program, with the Victorian Government delivering the project.
Traffic management will be in place during construction and the speed reduced to 40 km/h within the work zone.
Naretha Street will be closed to all traffic during works, including buses, with a detour in place along nearby King Street.
The Feldtmann Park/Naretha Street bus stop will be closed during the works. The nearest alternative is the Parnee Street/Palaroo Street bus stop.
The works are expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Once the upgrade is complete, drivers wishing to head north on the Murray Valley Highway from Naretha Street will need to turn left at the Naretha Street intersection and use the roundabout at McCallum Street to perform a U-turn.
