Great Ocean Road - Temporary Lane Closure
July 19, 2017
Minor landslip
VicRoads advises drivers that the Great Ocean Road has been reduced to one lane on an 80-metre section between Wye River and Kennett River due to a minor landslip.
The landslip, on the ocean side of the road about six kilometres west of Wye River, was caused by heavy rain and natural erosion.
The Great Ocean Road remains open to traffic but has been reduced to one lane and is being managed by traffic signals. Drivers will experience minor delays. The speed limit through this section has been reduced to 40kmh.
The lane closure will be in place for between four and six weeks while VicRoads installs a concrete and steel retaining wall.
VicRoads Regional Director Mark Koliba said the location was in an area where extensive stabilisation works were already taking place.
“Safety is our number one priority which is why we’ll construct a retaining wall here as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Mr Koliba said the retaining wall would be about 30 metres long and up to five metres high. The affected area of road has been closed with concrete barriers.
VicRoads continues to monitor a priority list of sites along the Great Ocean Road as it progresses its stabilisation works.
Stabilisation works
Since major storms in late 2016, VicRoads has been working continuously repairing and stabilising hillsides to protect the Great Ocean Road.
A major focus has been at Wye River, where VicRoads has built a number of steel and concrete retaining walls on the ocean side of the tourist road.
It also has built a 75m concrete and rock retaining wall along the upper side of the Great Ocean Road below the Paddy’s Path hillside where a major landslide occurred and a 50m retaining wall further up the hill.
This entire hillside has been stabilised with 300 8m-long steel rods (soil nails). Erosion control matting will next be laid along with steel netting and the whole works area revegetated.
Crews are also stabilising more than a dozen sites between Wye River and Kennett River.
Next stage
The next major focus will be a further dozen sites between Apollo Bay and Lorne and 30 sites between Separation Creek and Jamieson Creek.
Work is also about to begin on installing rock fall netting on the Great Ocean Road at Cape Patton Lookout.
These extensive stabilisation works are being carried out funding from a $53 million State Government grant to VicRoads late last year to protect the Great Ocean Road from environmental impacts.
Get in Touch & More Information
VicRoads has a designated webpage for Great Ocean Road landslide information and traffic conditions.
To sign up to our E bulletin distribution list email
Up to date information can also be found on the VicTraffic website and app or by calling 13 11 70.
If you have a question, or want to find out more we would love to hear from you. Email: