Princes Highway West - Winchelsea to Colac

Overview

We’ve widened this key arterial route from two to four lanes, making the 35km journey quicker and safer for up to 13,000 drivers every day.

The new highway has:

• new intersections
• two new bridges over the Geelong-Warrnambool train line – one of which removed a dangerous level crossing
• a new bridge over Barongarook Creek in Colac
• more than 120 kilometres of new safety barriers.

In 2015, we started adding extra lanes on the Princes Highway between Winchelsea and Colac. Sections were opened as they were completed.

We separated the upgrade into four stages:

• Deans Marsh Road, Winchelsea to Armytage
• Armytage to Warncoort
• Warncoort to Colac East
• Colac East and Colac (including Barongarook Creek).

Colac East and Colac

As part of the Princes Highway Upgrade in Colac and Colac East, we have:

• replaced the bridge over Barongarook Creek
• established a commemorative space in Colac to recognise the Traditional Owners of the land and the cultural significance of the area
• built new intersections
• added new pedestrian crossing and paths
• replaced the old road
• upgraded traffic lights
• upgraded the bridge over the Geelong-Warrnambool train line in Colac East.

Warncoort to Colac East

Between Warncoort and Colac East, we:

• added 8.5km of new lanes
• upgraded six intersections at:
  • Bourkes and Trasks Roads,
  • Pyles Road,
  • Warrowie and Collins Roads,
  • Colac-Ballarat and Drapers Roads, Flaxmill Road, and
  • Gallop and Baillie Streets.
• added new designated left and right turn lanes off the highway
• installed flexible safety barriers on the edge of the road and in the median
• upgraded drainage.

We opened this section to traffic in 2019.

Armytage Rd to Warcoort

As part of the upgrade between Armytage Road and Warncoort we:

• added 15km of new lanes
• built two new bridges over the Geelong-Warrnambool train line
• built new intersections at:
  • Conns Lane
  • Prices Lane
  • Birregurra Road
  • Hallets Lane
  • Mooleric Road
  • McDonnells Lane
  • Ayreys Reserve Road
  • Warncoort-Birregurra Road.
• installed designated left and right turn lanes off the highway
• installed safety barriers on the edge and centre of the road
• upgraded drainage.

We completed this section in April 2019.

Level crossing removed

In 2019, we opened two new bridges over the Geelong-Warrnambool Railway Line at Warncoort. We removed a dangerous level crossing and have provided a safer trip for the 8000 drivers who travel between Winchelsea and Colac each day.

Winchelsea to Armytage Rd

Between Deans Marsh Road, Winchelsea and Armytage Road we:

• built new intersections at:
  • Mousley Road
  • Ondit Road and McDonalds Lane
  • Robertson Road
  • Ingleby Road
  • Armytage Road.
• built new left and right turn lanes into side roads
• installed flexible safety barriers on the edge of the road and in the median
• landscaped the area and plant more than 10,000 native trees.

We completed this section in May 2018.