Projects

Geelong-Portarlington Road and Wilsons Road intersection upgrade

The Australian and Victorian Governments are upgrading the Geelong-Portarlington Road and Wilsons Road intersection in Newcomb with new traffic signals, to improve safety and traffic flow.

Project status:

Underway

Update – August 2026

Major works to upgrade the intersection and install new traffic signals are expected to be completed in September 2026.

Please note: dates and timeframes of these works are dependent on a range of factors, including favourable weather and site conditions.

Night works – from 6 September, 2026

From Sunday 6 September 2026, crews will be on site between 8pm and 5am. These works are scheduled to start at 8pm, Sunday 6 September, and planned to be completed by 5am, Thursday 10 September.

Please note: Dates and times of these works are subject to change due to weather impacts and site conditions, and may be rescheduled, if required.

During the night works, traffic management will include:

single lane closures on Geelong-Portarlington Road, with one lane of traffic available in each direction
traffic controllers to guide traffic in and out of Wilsons Road, and through the works area
increased noise and vibration
changed pedestrian access (please follow signage)
reduced speed limits
on-street parking restrictions will be in place in the works areas, on Wilson’s Road and also on a section of Geelong-Portarlington Road east of the intersection

Property access

While access to residential properties and businesses will be retained, there will be periods of disruption. The contractor will contact impacted residents directly should access be disrupted.

Remaining works

These night works are the final component of major construction works on this project.

Following the completion of night works, traffic management measures will remain in place to facilitate aftercare activities. The intersection of Geelong-Portarlington Road and Wilsons Road will be reopened, with Give Way signage installed to manage traffic movements safely.

Minor day works will continue on site in preparation for the activation of the traffic signals. A reduced speed limit will be in place, with lane closures as required.

Temporary lighting will be in place until the activation of permanent public lighting.

General Disruptions

While major works are underway, there will be significant changes to traffic conditions on Geelong-Portarlington Road and surrounding local roads.

Crews will be on site from Monday to Friday, between 7am and 5pm, with weekend works and nightworks required at times.

During work hours, there will be:

Single lane closures in both directions on Geelong-Portarlington Road
Changes to traffic lanes on Geelong-Portarlington Road to allow for road reconstruction
Speed restrictions to 40kmh
No on-street parking on the south side of Geelong-Portarlington Road, east of Wilsons Road in front of the early learning centre
Changed pedestrian access (please follow signage)
Bus stop changes (impacting Route 60 – towards St Leonards and school bus services)
- Wilsons Rd/Portarlington Rd (Stop ID 23587) opposite APCO, is temporarily closed. Public transport users can use alternate stops:
  - Neptune Ave/Portarlington Rd (Stop ID 45413) to the east
  - O’Brien St/Portarlington Rd (Stop ID 45415) to the west

Geelong-Portarlington Road will remain open throughout the works.

Traffic controllers will be on site to help road users travel safely through the area. Crews will aim to minimise delays and access impacts as much as possible.

What we’re doing

The intersection upgrade project includes:

Installation of new traffic signals
New dedicated turning lanes including a fully controlled right turn from Geelong-Portarlington Road into Wilsons Road, and fully controlled left and right turns from Wilsons Road into Geelong-Portarlington Road
Pedestrian-operated crossing to bus stop and new footpath on the north side of Geelong-Portarlington Road to bus stop
Bus stop relocation to improve pedestrian safety and intersection efficiency
Vegetation removal
Pavement construction
Construction of kerb and channel
New public street lighting

Background

Geelong-Portarlington Road is a semi-rural road connecting the city of Geelong with the popular coastal township of Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula. The section of the road at the intersection of Wilson Road in the Geelong suburb of Newcomb is a four-lane, dual carriageway. The intersection is in a busy residential area, and experiences seasonal holiday traffic.