The Allan Labor Government is backing more road upgrades in communities that need them most - providing grants to councils to help boost safety, reduce road trauma and deliver smoother journeys for more Victorians.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne today announced the second expression of interest stage of the four year $210 million Safe Local Roads and Street Program is now open to all 79 local councils across the state.
With almost $25 million in funding available this year and more than 200 projects approved so far, councils can apply for grants of up to $2 million for additional projects to develop, design and deliver critical safety upgrades on local roads, intersections, and precincts
Successful applications will be determined based on merit to deliver targeted road safety upgrades across the state.
Additional projects will continue to be funded over the coming months as the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and Department of Transport and Planning work together with local councils to finalise local road safety upgrades.
Local governments manage 87 per cent of Victoria's roads - with motorists depending on them every day to travel to school, work and around their local community.
The Safe Local Roads and Streets Program will help to build councils capacity to plan, fund and deliver road safety improvements on local roads, and provide an important contribution to reducing road trauma for all Victorians.
The program is bolstered by the Labor Government's 2025/26 $976 million road maintenance blitz which is underway and the largest single-year investment in road maintenance in the state's history - with 70 per cent of all the funding going towards regional roads.
As stated by Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne
"We've already funded more than 200 projects under our Safe Local Roads and Streets Program to reduce road trauma and deliver smoother journeys for Victorians."
"This second round of funding will support councils to deliver further lifesaving safety upgrades in their local communities."
As stated by TAC Acting Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Sampson
"Local streets are highly used infrastructure where people travel to work, where children walk to school, and where communities come together. By supporting local governments to deliver important local safety upgrades on these roads, we're helping to make everyday journeys safer for Victorians."
As stated by Acting Head of Road Safety Victoria Fiona Green
"We're supporting councils right across the state to deliver life-saving infrastructure upgrades and road safety projects in the areas that need it most."
