Why do the roads in Victoria’s South-West suck so much?

Drive along the Princes Highway between Warrnambool and Portland and you'll likely find yourself gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than usual, dodging potholes that seem to come out of nowhere, wondering if you've accidentally travelled back to the 1950s. 

Welcome to Victoria's South West, where roads have become so notoriously poor that they've earned a dubious honour: being identified among the most dangerous in the state.

The deteriorating condition of our regional roads is a serious safety concern that has residents and travellers alike demanding answers. 

According to RACV's 2024 My Country Road survey, which garnered more than 7000 responses from motorists across Victoria, potholes and poor road conditions were identified as the primary safety issue by a staggering 64 percent of participants. That's up from 46 percent in 2021, suggesting the problem is getting worse, not better.

The Princes Highway stretch from Warrnambool to Portland was specifically highlighted as one of the 12 most dangerous roads in Victoria.

For those who drive this route regularly, it comes as no surprise.

Bad roads become a political football

So why are our roads in such a state? According to the Independent candidate for Wannon, Alex Dyson, the answer lies in decades of political neglect.

"The roads are a clear sign of the neglect from the major parties of the electorate," Dyson told the Brolga. "For 70 years Wannon has been considered a safe seat, meaning we have been ignored by Labor and taken for granted by the Liberal Party."

The incumbent Liberal member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, who has held the seat for 15 years, was contacted for comment by the Brolga, with members of his team receiving questions and promising answers. None have come at the time of writing. In 2024, Tehan launched a petition on his website accusing the Labor government of cutting more than $80 million from south-west roads. Last month, Tehan issued a statement calling on the state government to release data showing what the rating is for every road across the nation’s state and territories.

Dyson himself admits to feeling unsafe on parts of the Princes Highway between Warrnmabool and Portland. 

"I have to admit, this is a hairy road which I feel unsafe on in parts,” he said. “There have been a number of accidents on this road, which is no doubt why it was voted one of the most dangerous roads in the state."

Promises, promises

The deteriorating roads issue has become a key battleground in the political landscape of the region. 

Labor candidate for Wannon, Fiona Mackenzie, provided a statement highlighting the Albanese Government's investments in the region, including a recent $185,955 upgrade to the main apron of Warrnambool Airport, which will allow for two further aircraft to park and improve aircraft manoeuvring and parking, and $206,000 for the Black Spot Program to improve the Queens/Botanic roundabout in Warrnambool.

The Black Spot Program is a federal initiative aimed at reducing crashes and improving road safety by targeting high-risk locations. Essentially, it provides funding for infrastructure upgrades at identified black spots — areas with a history of accidents or near-misses.

"Roads and Transport more generally are incredibly important pieces of infrastructure, and we need to ensure that each level of Government is putting in enough to maintain and improve our roads," Mackenzie said. "If elected, I will fight to ensure Wannon gets our fair share of funding."

The Labor statement also mentioned "more than 400 projects in Wannon" undertaken by the federal government, "but understand that there is more to do".

Meanwhile, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning points to significant investments being made in the region's road infrastructure.

"We're rebuilding, repairing and resurfacing hundreds of kilometres of roads along key travel and freight routes across Western Victoria, thanks to the largest single-year investment in road maintenance in the state's history," said Michael Bailey, Executive Director Barwon South West and Grampians for the Department.

“We know the Princes Highway is a crucial corridor that connects communities as well as our freight industry — that’s why we have significantly invested in the safety and reliability of the highway over many years.”

According to a statement provided to the Brolga, the department is investing $964 million towards maintaining Victoria's road assets as part of the 2024–25 road maintenance program — "the equivalent of $2.6 million every single day."

The department also noted that they're partnering with the Commonwealth government on a major package of upgrades, with $77 million of the first $150 million tranche allocated to Victoria's South West. This includes bridge upgrades, overtaking lanes, and pavement upgrades, as well as planning for future projects.

But residents have heard promises before, and many remain sceptical. The persistent state of disrepair suggests a disconnect between the funding announcements and the reality experienced by those navigating these roads daily.

A statewide issue

The roads problem extends beyond the South West. According to the RACV survey, the Melba Highway from Coldstream to Yea received the most responses regarding safety concerns, followed by Tylden-Woodend Road and Kilmore Road. The most dangerous intersection was identified as the junction of the Midland Highway and Howard Street in Epsom, north of Bendigo.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, while reducing speed limits might seem like an obvious immediate response to dangerous road conditions, only 14 percent of participants supported "a lower or more appropriate speed limit" as a measure to improve road safety statewide. However, that figure jumped to 56 percent when focusing specifically on the 12 worst roads, suggesting many Victorians recognise that slowing down may be necessary on particularly hazardous stretches.

The overwhelming preference among survey participants was clear: 60 percent believe improving road surfaces should be the priority solution, followed by wider shoulders (23 percent) and wider lanes (15 percent).

New approaches to fix the Western District’s roads

A statement from the Department of Transport and Planning said it's not just throwing money at the problem — but also exploring innovative solutions.

"We're continuing to trial new technologies and techniques for rebuilding and repairing Victoria's roads," a statement read. This includes expanded use of foamed bitumen in road repairs since the October 2022 floods, and exploration of improved materials that can better withstand increasing truck loads, tyre stress, climate change, and road congestion.

Part of the challenge — and this is true for anywhere on the planet with a road — comes down to the limitations of different repair methods. Cold mix bitumen, often used for quick pothole patches in less than ideal weather, provides a temporary fix that can be applied in wet and cold conditions, but it deteriorates rapidly under traffic. 

The more durable hot mix bitumen, which requires specialised heating equipment and warmer and dry conditions, creates longer-lasting repairs but is more expensive and weather-dependent. This explains why drivers often see the same potholes reappear shortly after "repairs" — those quick fixes with cold mix are basically band-aid solutions deployed when weather or other conditions won't allow for proper hot mix repairs.

These material constraints highlight why systematic planning, rather than reactive patching, is essential. According to the Department of Transport and Planning, roads selected for the 2024–25 maintenance program have been chosen "based upon data, expert inspections and community feedback," according to the department, "ensuring that works are delivered where local drivers need them most."

But for drivers navigating the pothole-riddled stretches between Warrnambool and Portland, the proof will be in the pavement. Until they see genuine, lasting improvements to the roads they travel daily, scepticism will remain high that these investments will translate into safer driving conditions.

The potholes of Victoria's South West have outlasted prime ministers, survived countless funding announcements, and heard enough election promises to fill every one of them twice over. In the meantime, drivers continue their daily slalom between hazards, wondering if the next round of record investment might actually fix the problem — or if they should just invest in better suspension instead.

_{The West Vic Brolga reached out to the Greens candidate for Wannon, Dr Kate Gazzard, but has not heard back for comment. The Brolga has been in contact with Liberal MP Dan Tehan's team since February 27, 2025, but has thus far received no response from Mr Tehan.}

_{Thumbnail: Wikimedia Commons.}