Residents living near the Bendigo-Pyramid Hill Road fear part of it is deteriorating and are concerned it is dangerous.
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A 1.4 kilometre stretch of the road towards Raywood is showing its age, with multiple cracks and potholes appearing in recent months.
Several residents believe heavy rains and trucks driving through the area have accelerated the road surface’s decline.
One local couple, Tracy Bush and Greg Campbell, said that when they had recently traveled through the section they had felt forced to drive on the nature strip rather than over an area where the bitumen had broken up.
Residents fear those driving in small cars or on motorbikes could be at risk, especially if they are unfamiliar with the area and conditions.
“As an ex-tow truck driver I can tell you this is a fatality waiting to happen,” Mr Campbell said.
“The locals are getting used to it but if you get anyone from out of town coming through, at nighttime and is not aware, it’s going to create a major accident.”
It was a sentiment echoed by other residents in the area, including Allie Chiron, who was concerned about driving the road in a car as small as her Suzuki Swift.
Below: Approximate area where the stretch of road starts.
She and Mr Campbell both said temporary speed signage down the road ought to be lowered. The current 60km zone did make things better but Ms Chiron would prefer speeds set at 40km given the way roads have deteriorated in recent weeks.
Ms Bush believed part of the reason the road was deteriorating was because of the number of trucks traveling through to building works in the area.
Mr Campbell and Ms Chiron both wanted major works to take place sooner rather than later.
“The road actually needs to be dug up and fully resurfaced,” Mr Campbell said.
VicRoads regularly inspected the Bendigo-Pyramid Hill Road, the group’s northern regional director Brian Westley said.
“If there are areas that require immediate attention, our maintenance team will undertake the repairs needed,” he said.
“VicRoads maintenance crews attended the site on Friday evening and undertook some remedial works to make the site safer.”
If a member of the community sees hazardous conditions on roads VicRoads encourages them to report it 24/7 by calling 13 11 70.
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Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
