YARRIAMBIACK Shire Council fear there will be another death on the Henty Highway unless a known blackspot is fixed.
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Last month a Maryborough man died on the highway at Hopetoun, when his vehicle left the road and struck trees adjacent to a bridge.
Council infrastructure and planning director James Magee said the bridge and culvert structure on that stretch of road did not have a guardrail, even thought it was at a curve in the road.
He said there was also a 2.5-metre drop down either side of the road.
He said other creek crossings on the highway had guardrails, even though they were on a straight section of road.
“Since the crash, I’ve been liaising with VicRoads to try to get guard rails, or some other structure put in place,” he said.
Council will also write to VicRoads about the issue.
Mr Magee said the crash last month was the second serious accident on that stretch of road.
“The first was in the late 1980s and there were some injuries and car damage,” he said.
Cr Andrew McLean said VicRoads had spent a lot of money on the highway.
“It’s surprising that this issue hasn’t been highlighted as a safety concern already,” he said.
“Death will continue to occur if we don’t do something.”
Mr Magee said he would leave it to VicRoads to determine the safest course of action.
“The standard along the highway is using guard rails, but the standards have changed over the years,” he said.