VicRoads has agreed to new speed limits in the townships of Manangatang and Wemen.
Swan Hill Rural City Council successfully negotiated with VicRoads to have reduced speed limits put in place, following concerns raised by community members.
The speed limit will be reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h on Robinvale-Sea Lake Road between Mallee Highway and Rainbow Street in Manangatang.
A reduction in speed from 90km/h to 80km/h will take effect on the Hattah-Robinvale Road through Wemen.
Robinvale Ward Councillor Jade Benham said Council was thrilled with a positive response from VicRoads, and she hoped the community would be too.
“The new speed limits will improve the safety of residents, visitors and motorists taking a break,” Cr Benham said.
“We have large agricultural industries in these areas, predominantly being almonds, grapes, carrots and grain, which means that large transport trucks are travelling in and out of these communities,” she said.
“Due to an increase in traffic in these areas, it was important to see speed limits reduced to lessen the risk,” she said.
Cr Benham said Swan Hill Rural City Council would also continue to advocate for improvements to roads in these area.
“This agreement certainly does not mean that we will stop lobbying VicRoads to reconstruct the longer stretches of roads but this is a strong commitment towards community safety in the interim.”
Cr Benham said it was hoped the new speed restrictions would reduce the chance of accidents or further near miss situations occurring in these areas.
“We encourage motorists to slow down and abide by the new speed restrictions,” she said.
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