Projects

Wy Yung Road (Bullumwaal Road) and Howitt Avenue intersection upgrade, Bairnsdale

We’re installing new traffic signals at the intersection of Wy Yung Road (Bullumwaal Road) and Howitt Avenue, between Wy Yung and Eastwood, to improve safety, traffic flow and accessibility for all road users.

Project status:

Underway

Image of a car turning at the Wy Yung Road and Howitt Avenue intersection

Update – January 2025

We will be carrying out 24-hour works from early January until February 2025 to minimise the impact to traffic at the intersection.

Construction work on the intersection upgrade started in November 2024 and are progressing well.

The works include the installation of traffic signals at the intersection and improvements to safety and accessibility for all road users.

Works are expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Princes Highway and McEacharn Street intersection upgrade

Works started on the Princes Highway and McEacharn Street intersection project in the east of Bairnsdale in October 2024.

Both intersections are located close to the two crossings of the Mitchell River in Bairnsdale and cater to a combined 27,000 vehicles per day.

Please allow extra time when travelling through the area, especially at peak traffic times.

Traffic impacts

We understand roadworks can be disruptive and have made every effort to minimise the impact to road users.

Traffic management will be in place, with lane closures at times to allow road users to safely navigate the area whilst works are being undertaken.

Please look out for changed traffic conditions and allow extra time for your journey.

We will provide advance notice on any further traffic changes as the project progresses.

Thank you for your patience as we deliver this important safety project.

Details

The upgrade works will include:

new traffic signals at the intersection
raised safety platforms on Wy Yung Road
raised pedestrian crossings on Howitt Avenue left turn slip lanes
a widened shared user path along Wy Yung Road
improved access into the adjacent Recreation Reserve
concrete medians, and improved kerbing and drainage
installation of safety barriers, and
upgraded street lighting.

Image showing Wy Yung Road and Howitt Avenue intersection upgrade map

View a larger version of the Wy Yung Road and Howitt Avenue intersection upgrade map

Benefits

New traffic signals at the intersection will:

Provide safer turning movements into Wy Yung Road and Howitt Avenue and improve traffic flow at the intersection.
Provide safe crossing points to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and vulnerable road users.
Improve access to the Mitchell River Flats walking track, recreation reserves, schools, aged care centre and the Bairnsdale CBD.
Improve visibility with upgraded street lighting.

Overview

The Australian and Victorian governments have invested $5.92 million through the Road Safety Program towards the Wy Yung Road (Bullumwaal Road) and Howitt Avenue intersection upgrade project.

Since 2017, we have been working with the Bairnsdale and Wy Yung communities to understand road network issues.

The population of Bairnsdale has grown significantly over the past decade, increasing the number of vehicles on the town’s road network.

This population growth is predicted to grow a further 27 per cent between 2016 and 2036 with significant growth areas in the Eastwood suburb.

Wy Yung Road and Howitt Avenue intersection was identified by the community as a high priority intersection. Wy Yung Road is one of only two roads in Bairnsdale that cross the Mitchell River.

Traffic signals were identified as the preferred option based on community feedback, improved safety and traffic flow benefits.