TRUCK drivers and residents are calling on the Victorian Government to urgently upgrade Prairie-Rochester Rd.
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The road is regularly used by B-double trucks as the easiest connection between the Northern Hwy and Loddon Valley Hwy.
However, extended neglect combined with regular use by the heavy vehicles has seen the road fall into a state of disrepair.
Maher's Transport owner Brendan Maher said the ongoing issues with the road were a major issue for not only his company, but many other transport businesses, and those who lived in the area.
“We have half a dozen trucks,” he said.
“And it's constantly causing damage to the vehicles. We used to get three to four years out of a set of shock absorbers, now we are getting two. There are 18 on each of our trucks, and they cost $260 each. That kind of money adds up over time.
“Then you have windscreens and tyre wear. It's hard to measure the other suspension components but it damages those as well.
“But more so, it's not fair on the locals. Their road isn't up to the standard and it impacts them as a result.”
Local farmer Russ Mitchell, who relies on trucks through the area for harvest, said it was a tough drive.
“It's incredibly narrow,” he said.
“it's a narrow stretch of bitumen full of potholes, and has these big rocks that go flying when people are going along it. It's terrible.
“For people like Brendan, it's still the best option, but it's just not up to standard.”
Mr Mitchell is a fifth generation farmer for the area, and has watched the road continue to fall apart.
And has seen little to no development take place.
“We spoke to VicRoads maybe 10 years ago,” he said.
“But we have seen no progress, and heavy traffic has increased since then so it has got worse.”
Mr Maher said the damage on the road had forced drivers to travel far slower than the permitted speed limit to avoid not only damage to the fleet, but to other vehicles using the road.
“Time is money for us,” he said.
“It costs $100 an hour to use one of these trucks, so having to instruct my drivers to take the road at 90km/h instead of 100km/h is far from ideal.
“They also slow down to 50 to 60km/h when there is other traffic coming past because the road isn't wide enough, and we don't want someone else's vehicle to be sprayed with bitumen, so that adds more time.
“The reality is it remains the easiest route to get between central Victoria and the Goulburn Valley — you add more time on by going a different route.
Mr Mitchell said the increase in traffic had only made things worse.
“As traffic has increased, bigger and longer vehicles, it's become a major problem,” he said.
“Twenty years ago with less traffic, you could dodge things a bit, but with the lack of maintenance it's only gotten worse.”
Mr Maher said VicRoads needed to pay more attention to the road.
“They need to take it more seriously,” he said.
“So much traffic uses that road every day, not just trucks but local traffic as well. It's putting more and more pressure on the road, while the road isn't getting the money to keep it up to standard.
“It needs to be upgraded to dual-sealed so it's comfortably two widths all the way across, but the first step is to upgrade it to a B-class road.”
Mr Mitchell agreed.
“The regions provide so much though farming, and its essential to move that product,” he said.
“We need the government and VicRoads to support the area and invest in the road.”
Regional Roads Victoria regional director (Northern) Brian Westley said roads were constantly being monitored.
“Keeping people safe on our roads is at the forefront of everything we do,” he said.
“As farmers prepare for a busy harvest season, we’re encouraging drivers to stay alert, stay patient and stay safe as an influx of trucks and agricultural machinery hit our roads.
“Our specialist safety crews are out there every day carrying out road safety, maintenance and hazard inspection across our entire road network.”
Sports journalist