Melba Highway Works Paused After Safety Concerns and Near Misses

Melba Highway Works Paused After Safety Concerns

Construction works on the Melba Highway in Melbourne's outer east have been paused following reports of near misses involving trucks diverted onto narrow back roads. The closure, initially planned for six weeks until the end of March, was implemented for landslip repair works.

However, residents reported numerous dangerous incidents as heavy trucks were forced to share the winding roads with local traffic. Despite the introduction of safety measures, the Department of Transport announced a halt to the works until further notice.

"We have heard the communities' concerns about safety during landslip repair works on the Melba Highway," the department stated on its website. "Despite these mitigations, we have continued to see incidents in the area, and a decision has been made to pause the works while we undertake a review."

The Melba Highway is scheduled to reopen at midday on Saturday, with the community to be kept informed of next steps and any changes to traffic management.

Lesley Bebbington, a resident of nearby Kinglake for 35 years, expressed relief at the reopening. "There's been a number of incidents and accidents on those [back] roads … and each one of those is too many," she said. "I'm not in any way saying that the Melba Highway shouldn't be repaired, but I think this gives them time to work out strategies that won't put people at risk."

The department has not yet announced a date for the resumption of works. The Melba Highway repairs were initiated following two landslips in 2022 caused by heavy rain in the area. The busy thoroughfare is a crucial route for trucks traveling from Melbourne's eastern suburbs to farming regions in the Goulburn Valley.