Construction To Begin on Heavy Vehicle Alternate Route (HVAR)

Published on 23 December 2021

Mansfield Shire Council has resolved to award a $1.65 million contract for Stage 1 of the Heavy Vehicle Alternative Route to North East Civil Construction, with works scheduled to begin in January 2022.

Mayor Cr James Tehan said this was a great step forward for the project.

“We’re proud to have been able to progress this project, which has been sitting with Council for years. The decision to award the contract represents real action on the project,” said Cr Tehan.

“It was a competitive and thorough tender process. Local contractors were included and considered. Council has decided to award the contract to North East Civil, based in Bright.”

“Safer roads are more productive roads. With an increase in trucks on the Maroondah and Midland Highways, community safety is enhanced along these routes by redirecting heavy vehicle traffic away from the school and central business districts,” said Cr Tehan.

The project is split into two stages. Stage 1 of the project will include upgrades to the road from the intersection of Withers Lane and Maroondah Highway, along Withers Lane and Dead Horse Lane.

Stage 2 will include works along the second half of Dead Horse Lane, Mansfield-Whitfield Road, Mt Battery Road and Greenvale Lane.

Roadworks for Stage 1 will begin 17 January 2022 and are expected to continue through to the end of July 2022. Works include kerb and channel earthworks, bitumen surfacing, culvert construction and line marking. 

These works are part of Council’s long term traffic and transport strategies. This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government and Mansfield Shire Council. Council has budgeted $2.6 million for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the project and has received $1.95 million from the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.