General News
13 February, 2026
Roadworks to widen Talbot’s major London Bridge days away from commencing
Following years of local advocacy, the Victorian Government has announced safety works at Talbot’s London Bridge are set to begin.
The upgrades along the Ballarat- Maryborough Road are backed by a $1.5 million State Government investment from the 2024/25 state budget, in a move to make vehicles approaching the bridge more visible from both directions.
Commencing next week, improve-ments will include a wider road shoulder, making it easier and safer for all motorists, including freight operators travelling between Ballarat and Maryborough, to cross the bridge.
Crews will then replace the existing kerbs and barriers with new side-mounted barriers, allowing the road shoulder on the bridge to be widened.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne said the infrastructure was outdated and needed upgrades to accommodate for higher volumes of traffic.
“London Bridge is an old bridge that was built in the 1940s. With the increase in volume of trucks on the network and particularly larger trucks, we need to do some important safety upgrades,” she said.
“There will be two stages of works. Firstly, we will be cutting the trees back and putting in activated signals to warn cars and trucks of approaching traffic as they are crossing the bridge. The old concrete barriers on either side, we will be removing them and turning them into much slimmer barriers, and resealing the entrances to the bridge as well.
“This will give us an additional meter’s worth of space on the bridge, which will make it a much safer and smoother ride for motorists and truck drivers.”
The upgrades will also include new road surfacing and line marking to prohibit overtaking and further enhance safety.
Reduced speed limits and lane closures will also be in place throughout the works to protect both road crews and motorists.
Talbot Action Inc’s Lindsay Hazelman said the community has witnessed numerous hazards at the bridge for years.
“It’s on a very slight curve, but that curve means that any car has to come over the white line to negotiate that bridge,” he said.
“It’s been a thorn in everyone’s side locally, and visitors, for some time. Trucking companies used to talk candidly about brushing mirrors as they passed on the bridge.
“This has been happening in detail for a couple years now ... we will be very pleased to see some action.”
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the upgrades will ensure a ‘substantial difference’ to all motorists that rely on Ballarat-Maryborough road.
“This is a notorious bridge in Talbot, this has been the site of many tragedies and near misses over the years now, and that is exactly why we are making these safety improvements this year,” she said.
“Locals have really fought for this for years now ... it’s going to make a substantial difference not just to locals but to freight operators, to tourists, especially at night time.
“This is a dangerous section that we want to make a lot safer.”
The community is urged to observe changed traffic conditions and follow the direction of on-site traffic controllers.
Both stages of works are expected to be completed by September this year.