Labor to fix 25 Victorian roads as election sweetener ahead of November poll

Victorian Labor pledges $893m to upgrade 25 local roads if elected In short: Labor has promised to upgrade 25 local roads across Victoria at a cost of $893 million if it wins the November election. Many of the roads slated for upgrades are in highly contested electorates, including Ripon, Morwell and South-West Coast. The Liberal Nationals Coalition previously promised to invest $5 billion to repair and rebuild the state's roads if elected to govern. Victoria's country roads are shaping up to be a major issue in next month's state election, with both major parties ramping up funding promises to win over fed-up regional voters. Labor has today pledged a further $893 million to upgrade roads, as the Coalition vows to make fixing the state's roads a top priority if elected. This morning, a re-elected Labor government has promised to upgrade 25 local roads across Victoria as part of an $893 million plan. Of the 25 roads earmarked for repair, 19 will be in regional Victoria. The works include duplicating Ballarat-Carngham Road to four lanes in Ballarat, installing new traffic lights at Howitt and Burke Street in Warragul, and building a new dual lane roundabout at Rober Road and Goulburn Valley Highway in Kialla. Other roads Labor promises to upgrade • Two intersection upgrades in Illowa • New traffic lights at Hamilton Street in Broadford • Extending John Street to intersect with Kilmore-Lancefield Road in Kilmore • New turning lanes and upgraded traffic lights at Princes Hwy and Grey Street in Traralgon • Strengthening the Traralgon-Maffra Road bridge in Gippsland. • An improved pedestrian crossing on McCartin Street in Leongatha • Safety upgrades on Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, south of Wangaratta • Widening and resealing eight roads across Western Victoria Many of the roads slated for upgrades are in highly contested electorates including Ripon, Morwell and South-West Coast. Labor has previously committed to upgrade 25 other roads in recent weeks, including the Bellarine Link, widening Somerton Road in Melbourne and duplicating Findon Road in Epping. Premier Ben Carroll said his government was "getting back to basics". "Just like we removed more than 50 level crossings, Labor will upgrade 50 local roads," Mr Carroll said. Last month, motorcyclist Peter "Tiki" Mason died after he hit a pothole near Trawalla, west of Ballarat. Liberals also focused on roads Liberal leader Jess Wilson visited west Ballarat yesterday, promising to duplicate Dyson Drive between Remembrance Drive and Ballarat-Carngham Road. The $115 million roadworks would add an additional two lanes to the current two and upgrade intersections. The Coalition promised the works would start in their first term of government, if elected. "Ballarat's west is one of the fastest-growing parts of regional Victoria, but its roads haven't kept pace," Ms Wilson said. "Families in Alfredton and Lucas are stuck in congestion every day, and it's only getting worse." The Coalition previously promised to invest $5 billion to repair and rebuild the state's roads. A recent auditor-general's report found almost half of Victoria's state-managed roads were in very poor condition.