Deputy Prime Minister Minister Michael McCormack, who is also the Infrastructure Minister, visited the region and announced a grant worth $750,000 towards safety upgrades for the road.

The Ararat Rural City Council is also contributing $750,000 toward the completion of the project.

The project will see 4.7 kilometres of natural gravel road upgraded to 6.2 metre sealed road, improving conditions for local motorists and industries.

This project will trial road construction techniques through the use of higher cost bitumen binders and lower cost pavement and aggregate.

It is hoped this will deliver more cost effective construction and superior road life span.

The road runs north-south through Warrak and connects the Pyrenees and Western highways, and Ararat Council chief officer Dr Tim Harrison said that made it crucial for safety and freight efficiency.

"It provides a viable alternative route," he said.

"Currently the Pyrenees Highway and the Western Highway are linked through Ararat, and it now provides a viable other link for heavy transport.

"Currently it's very narrow roads, very windy - it's an opportunity to widen that road out and make it much safer."

Ararat Council mayor, Councillor Peter Beales, said improved safety would also be a key outcome, as it would be easier to navigate.

"There was an accident recently when some young people had their GPS lead them down a dirt road and then they came back out (onto the road) and got killed, and that's the problem.

"Once the road is done and proper and it's properly factored into the system it won't be as confusing."

The safety implications could be broadened again; Dr Harrison said in the case of road closures on the major highways, motorists would now have a safe alternative.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.