VicRoads takes an integrated approach to road safety by including safety considerations in all aspects of road infrastructure management from project planning and construction to maintenance and operations, and has specific programs focused on improving high-risk roads and intersections as well as developing innovative safety solutions. Road safety audits are conducted at various stages of projects from design through completion to identify and address potential safety issues, while maintenance follows defined processes and response timelines for inspecting and addressing hazards and defects on the road network.

1. Road Infrastructure Safety in Victoria
Greg Chambers
Acting Director, Commercial & Business Services

2. Roads in Victoria
Arterial Roads
National Hwy funded by Commonwealth,
managed by States
National Hwy Arterial Rd funded and managed by States

3. Roads in Victoria
Length Networ Travel
Road Type
(km) k (%) (%)
National
1,010 0.9 8.9
highway
VicRoads
Rural arterial 18,060 10.2 21.8
Urban arterial 3,180 3.2 51.7
Arterial Roads1 22,250 14.3 82.4
Rural local 106,100 67.3 5.2
Govt.
Local
Urban local 26,400 16.8 12.4
All road types 154,750 100.0 100.0
1 Road assets valued at AUD$23 billion, incl. 3,000+ bridges

4. Overall Approach
Road Safety is fully integrated into road
infrastructure management and operations
 Specific road safety programs
– Safer Road Infrastructure Program
 Project development & implementation
 Maintenance planning & operations
 Working on roads
“Safety is an integrated part of all
of our road programs”

5. Safer Road Infrastructure
Program
Program Focus
 Run-off-road crashes on high-speed roads
 Dangerous intersections in outer metropolitan
Melbourne
 Greyspot intersections
 Mass action treatments
– tactile centrelines / edgelines
 Route treatment approach
 Innovation component (up to $3m per annum)

6. Project Development &
Implementation
Project Planning &
Scope Approval
Pre-construction
Project
Completion
Construction

7. Road Safety Audit Policy

8. Road Safety Audit Stages

9. Project Planning & Scope
Approval
1. Identify need for project
 congestion, land use development, safety,
special needs
2. Identify treatment options & objectives
 evaluate treatments & options to identify
most effective project (economic & other
criteria)
3. Approval to scope & cost
4. Listing with other candidate projects for future
programs

10. Preconstruction
1. Standards for safe roads and facilities
2. Design-phase road safety audits
3. Community & stakeholder consultation
4. Construction planning
 minimise inconvenience to residents & traffic
 maximise safety for workers, traffic & residents

11. Construction
1. Detailed work plans
 minimise impact, maximise safety
2. Ongoing communications
 motorists & residents
3. Ongoing safety management, inspections &
record keeping
4. Stage road safety audits
5. Site reinstatement & final acceptance

12. Project Completion
1. Hand over for maintenance
2. Post-construction review against project
objectives
3. Ongoing monitoring against project objectives
 traffic volumes, delays
 road safety outcomes
 environmental outcomes

13. Maintenance Planning &
Operations
Maintenance Program
Routine Periodic
Maintenance Maintenance
Road Safety
Objective
Asset
Preservation

14. Routine Maintenance
Hazard Alerts Regular
from Public Inspections
Safety Condition
Inspections Inspections
Response Response
Criteria Criteria
Maintenance
Work

15. Specified Requirements
Safety Inspections
 Day & Night Inspections
– frequency depends on importance of road
• urban freeways -> minor rural arterials
 Criteria for what is a “safety hazard”, eg.
– any object in a traffic lane
– pothole >300mm diameter, 100mm depth
 Specified response times
– depends on hazard & importance of road
• Object on urban freeway -> missing sign
on minor rural arterial

16. Specified Requirements
Condition Inspections
 Monthly inspection for all roads
 Cover all road elements
– standard list of pavement,
drainage, roadside, structure
items
 Criteria for what is a “Defect”
– potholes, blocked drain, long
grass
 Specified response times
– depends on defect & importance
of road
 Scheduled as routine maintenance
activities

17. Periodic Maintenance

18. Pavement Guidelines

19. Roadside Guidelines

20. Working on Roads
Worksite Traffic Management
Framework
 Responsibilities
 Records Management
 Traffic Management Plans
 Audit and Surveillance
 Training
 Approvals

21. Worksite Hazard Management
Worksite Hazard Management Process
 Step 1 – Worksite Hazard Rating
 Step 2 – Required Level of Planning
 Step 3 – Hazards at the Worksite
 Step 4 – Hazard Control Measures – Hierarchy of Safety Controls
 Step 5 – Hazard Control Measures to be Implemented
 Step 6 – Prepare and Implement Traffic Management Plan
 Step 7 – Review the Traffic Management Plan in Practice
 Step 8 – Carry Out the Work

22. Guidelines
Work-Related Guidelines for:
 Short term works
– Low impact
– Mobile works
– Emergency works
 Long term works
– Traffic management during works
– Traffic management at night
– Provision for other road users
– Use of safety barriers
 Speed Zones

23. Guidelines
Work-Related Guidelines for:
 Hazard control measures
– High Visibility Clothing
– Use of Traffic Control Signs & Controllers
– Use of Portable Traffic Signals
– Use of Electronic Variable Message Signs
– Traffic Management with Electronic Signs

24. Guidelines
Supplemented by Handbooks

25. Discussion