Road works ring the Macedon Ranges

Six major road projects will make driving around the Macedon Ranges a stop-start affair over coming months, the council is warning.

The $2.2 million federal government Black Spot Recovery road reconstruction program rolls out along the Kilmore Road at Gisborne, Chanters Lane at Tylden and Fernhill, Collier Street in Woodend as well as the Burke and Wills Track at Baynton.

New guard rails and anti-skid surfacing will be installed along segments of Ashbourne Road, Woodend – from Donalds Road to Currawong Road – while new guard rails will be put in place along Cobb and Co Road, Carlsruhe.

Macedon Ranges council’s assets and operations director Dale Thornton said the roadworks, which are due to be completed by June 30, target roads identified in routine inspections as those most needing repair.

“We manage a large road network covering a total distance of 1700 kilometres,” he said. “We thank residents for their patience during these works, which will make a major difference to the quality of our roads.”

In addition, footpaths will be upgraded at Gisborne, Woodend and Kyneton over coming months. Gisborne gets $368,000 in bluestone paving, asphalt and drainage works in Hamilton, Aitken, Brantome and Robertson streets. A new section of footpath will be constructed on Brooke Street, Woodend, between Wood and Bowen streets, later in March, and various concrete footpath repair works will also be undertaken around Kyneton and Gisborne from next month.