Liberals match Labor's Bellarine Link promise to ease Geelong traffic woes

Victoria's country roads are shaping up to be a major issue in next month's state election, with both major parties dishing out promises to win over fed-up regional voters.

Delivery of a long-awaited major road project in Geelong is all but assured after the Liberal Party today matched a Labor commitment to build the Bellarine Link.

Stage one of the long-discussed roadworks would connect the Surf Coast Highway and Barwon Heads Road in Geelong's southern suburbs, effectively extending the Geelong Ring Road to improve access to the Bellarine Peninsula.

The roadworks are expected to help redirect trucks and heavy traffic from Geelong's CBD, with funding for planning first committed in the 2016-17 budget.

Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure Evan Mulholland said the $335.1 million project had been costed by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office.

The project is about 40 per cent more expensive than the Labor pledge of $237m.

Mr Mulholland said he doubted the Labor commitment to deliver a four-lane arterial for $98m less could be trusted.

"We can only assume that Ben Carroll is planning a one-lane each-way Bellarine Link, short-changing the people of the Bellarine and Geelong," he said.

"We've seen this before, whether it be the promises on the Torquay Hospital, whether it be the promises on Mount Duneed secondary college, whether it be the promises of Commonwealth Games infrastructure for this community, Ben Carroll and Labor say one thing before the election and another thing afterwards."

Mr Mulholland said a Liberal and Nationals government would aim to begin construction of the Bellarine Link in its first term.

Labor pitch on roads 

Labor has today pledged a further $893 million to upgrade 25 more roads, as the Coalition also vows to make fixing the state's roads a top priority if elected.

Of the 25 roads earmarked for repair by a Labor government, 19 would 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 has promised to upgrade include:

• 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 told ABC Statewide Mornings the focus on roads was part of his "back to basics approach".

"That meant delaying some level crossings, making some savings on the Suburban Rail Loop and bringing forward funds for our local roads," he said.

The Coalition has pledged $5 billion to fix potholes and invest in preventative road maintenance.

Mr Carroll said Labor's package totalled $1.4 billion.

"The Coalition in the mid-90s privatised road maintenance, I prioritised bringing it back in-house," he said.

"We have to change the status quo and bring road maintenance back in-house, full accountability by the Victorian government, no more buck-passing."

Last month, motorcyclist Peter "Tiki" Mason died after he hit a pothole near Trawalla, west of Ballarat.

Liberals to fund Ballarat roadworks

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.