Marong Road, between Ironbark and Maiden Gully, is one of the busiest stretches of road in the region, with 12,000 vehicles travelling along the bitumen each day. 

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards believes it’s also a “very dangerous” stretch of road.

In April, a 47-year-old man was left in a critical condition after suffering multiple fractures to his knees and toes, deep lacerations to his elbow and required a blood infusion, Bendigo Magistrates’ Court heard in December.

Increased residential development in the area is expected to increase the congestion on an already well-used road. 

VicRoads is conducting a study to understand the future needs of drivers and the freight industry for Marong Road. 

The $3.5 million study, funded by the state government, will be informed by community opinion.

VicRoads will hold a drop-in session at Bendigo Stadium on February 1 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm.

Ms Edwards said all safety improvement options, from duplication and safety barriers to road widening, are currently on the table.

“We want locals to come on down and have their say on potential changes to a road that many use every day,” she said.

Between 2012 and 2017, there were 39 crashes along this section of road leading to 52 injuries, with 17 of them serious.