A number of consultation sessions were hosted by VicRoads and project engineers, starting with a meeting in Great Western on Wednesday.

The plans for the next stage of the Buangor to Ararat section have already been developed and approved.

But with a two-year gap since their approval and construction VicRoads team leader Bart Popielczyk said he was keen to hear community feedback.

“We are here to try and get feedback from the community about the work we have been doing,” he said.

“Also any idea road users might have for the next 12.5-kilometre section we are currently in the final stages of planing for.

“Generally the response has been positive because people are keen to get the next section of the road underway.”

Mr Popielczyk said it was expected to take about 18 to 24 months to complete construction on the next section, which will start early next year.

He said VicRoads wanted to be innovative with the next section of the design.

“We have deliberately made these sessions about more than the Buangor to Ararat sections,” he said.

Ararat Rev Adriaan Siersema said he was interested to see the plans for the duplication project.

“I travel to Ballarat a fair bit so any way of making it better and safer is really good,” he said.

“I certainly am looking forward to the next section, it will be quicker, but safer as well which is the important part.”

Husband and wife David and Kath Hair also made the trip to Great Western from Ararat.

Mr Hair said he wanted to see what the layouts for the newly opened section and future plans were like.

“It is very important for the region because we have got to have that duplication of the highway,” he said.

“We do go down to Ballarat at least once a month, so just the section from Beaufort has made a big difference.”

Along with the Great Western sessions, a meeting was also scheduled at Buangor’s Cobb & Co Stables on Friday from 2pm to 8pm.

An Ararat information session will be hosted at Gum Sam Great Hall from 9am to 2pm on Saturday.