Our immediate focus remains the safety of road users. For now that continues to mean detours via Seven Bridges Road and Colac-Forrest Road. We understand it is incredibly frustrating when a road is closed, and I thank you for your patience.
Our crews have been onsite each day since the West Barwon Reservoir spilled over and will continue to do so until the road can safely be reopened.
We are meeting regularly with Barwon Water, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and local authorities to monitor the flooding and working to minimise the impact on the local community and people travelling through the area.
Some days the road doesn’t appear to have a lot of water over the surface, but the ground remains incredibly wet and this can present hazards on, under and near the road. The water is also rising and dropping at various points throughout the day.
The CCMA is progressing a plan to alleviate and redirect the water upstream. This will help reduce the water passing over the road, allowing the ground to dry out so that we can inspect and make repairs. We will work as quickly and safely as possible to inspect and repair the road as soon as the water disperses.
We are working with Colac Otway Shire to monitor the current detour route, and will make traffic management adjustments as required.
Here is a link to our Regional Roads Victoria webpage. This is where we will provide road reopening progress updates.
Anyone wanting to receive road reopening progress updates via email can share their email address via regionalwest.communications@roads.vic.gov.au and we will add them to our local email group.
Some local roads in Forrest have also been impacted by flooding. Real-time traffic conditions are available at traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or via the VicTraffic mobile app.
There is further information about the West Barwon Reservoir on the Barwon Water website.
