One of the key road freight routes through the Hindmarsh Shire Council area is set to receive improvements including widening and a bridge upgrade thanks to state government funding.

Hindmarsh Shire Council has received $1.5 million through Round 2 of the Victorian Government’s Fixing Country Roads program.

Under Round 1 of this funding program a 2.3-kilometre section of the Nhill-Rainbow Road is being widened, of which 500m has been completed. Work will begin in the next few weeks on the replacement of the bridge over Outlet Creek at the top end of Lake Hindmarsh.

The new funding will enable widening of approximately 9km of the remaining narrow sections of the road, with this work commencing early in the new financial year.

Regional Roads Victoria said that the Outlet Creek Bridge Widening project will widen the existing bridge to allow for 3.4-metre-wide lanes, widen the road around the bridge to 7-metres with 1-metre wide sealed shoulders, and improve the alignment of the road on approach to the bridge.

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor Cr Ron Ismay is very happy about the funding.

“I’m extremely pleased that we will now be able to complete the widening of the Nhill Rainbow Road.

“This will enable a further upgrade in the safety of a key link road in the Shire.”

Council will contribute $750,000 to the new sections of the road, which is included in their draft 2019/2020 budget.

“Meeting the commitment” made when removing restrictions on the road
The section of the Nhill-Rainbow Road between the Lorquon East Road at Detpa and the Rainbow township was closed to heavy traffic in June 2012.

It was moved at a Council meeting on 18th April 2018 that the truck restrictions on Rainbow-Nhill Road be removed, although this was not a well-received decision due to ongoing safety concerns.

Cr Ismay said that Council is still very much working towards making the road safe and accessible for all road users.

“Council is meeting the commitment it made, when opening the road to all traffic, to improve the safety of the Nhill Rainbow Road.”