November 9th, 2026Construction To Start On Western Highway

A safer Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat in western Victoria is being built, with major construction planned to start this month.

Works will proceed thanks to an additional $446 million joint investment from the state and federal governments in the 2026/27 State and Federal Budgets to ensure the project will be delivered.

The upgrade will add a lane in each direction along the almost 12-kilometre stretch, which is expected to be completed by 2029.

Early works are already underway, paving the way for major earthworks.

New centre medians and safety barriers will significantly improve road safety.

The project’s design has been updated to make the road safer and more efficient.

The Western Highway is one of the busiest national undivided highways in Australia, and a critical freight and tourism route for western Victoria.

The upgrade builds on the section already duplicated between Ballarat and Buangor as part of the Western Highway Upgrade, bringing the total investment to around $1.17 billion.

This includes $970.9 million from the Australian Government and $195.8 million from the Victorian Government.