Projects

Kalimna Path and Princes Highway safety upgrades Kalimna

We are delivering safety improvements to Kalimna Path, between Lakes Entrance and Kalimna, and at the intersection of Lookout Road and Hotel Road on the Princes Highway in Kalimna.

Update - July 2024

The Australian and Victorian governments have committed funding to construct the safety upgrades to Kalimna Path and the Princess Highway.

The intersection of Lookout Road and Hotel Road on the Princes Highway will have the painted centre islands replaced by concrete medians and two raised safety platforms installed to slow down vehicles prior to the pedestrian crossing.

Environmental impacts

Environmental approval requirements for the works are currently being investigated.

We will work with experts to conduct the detailed environmental assessments necessary to obtain these approvals and confirm what we can do to minimise our impact on flora and fauna.

Next steps

The team are now working to undertake site surveys, prepare detailed design plans and obtain environmental approvals.

We will continue to consult with the East Gippsland Shire Council and other key stakeholders in relation to the proposed upgrades.

A further update will be provided following completion of the preconstruction activities and once key construction timeframes can been confirmed.

Overview

Lakes Entrance is a major tourist destination on the Gippsland Lakes. The Princes Highway is the main access for road users and pedestrians between Kalimna and Lakes Entrance.

The Kalimna Path currently provides pedestrian access across North Arm bridge between Lakes Entrance and Kalimna.

The path also provides direct links to the scenic lookouts situated on the southern side of the Princes Highway, which are popular tourist attractions due to their panoramic views of the Gippsland Lakes and Bass Strait.

Details

The proposed upgrades include:

Widening the top section of the Kalimna Path and improving the surface of the remaining length of the path.
Replacing the existing pedestrian fence on the foreshore side of the path with a new fence.
Concrete islands at the intersection of Princes Highway and Lookout Road and raised safety platforms near the pedestrian crossing.
Improved streetlighting in the vicinity of the pedestrian crossing upgrades and raised safety platforms.

Benefits

They key benefits of the proposed upgrades include:

Increased initiative to walk and cycle.
Improved pedestrian access to promote active transport within the community and for visitors to the area.
Reduction of safety risks by reducing the severity of casualty crashes.

Previous works at Lakes Entrance

In 2022, we revitalised and improved safety within Lakes Entrance as part of the Princes Highway East – Lakes Entrance (Club Spit) Improvement Works project.

With contributions from both the Australian Government and East Gippsland Shire Council, the completed upgrades made it safer and more pleasant to walk, cycle and drive in Lakes Entrance.

We upgraded several sections of the Princes Highway (the Esplanade) in Lakes Entrance to improve safety and accessibility for all road users, and to support local businesses.