13/03/08 – NEW STRZELECKI HWY SECTION OPENS TODAY

International Power Hazelwood (IPRH) announces that a new 7.5 kilometre section of the Strzelecki Highway south west of Morwell will open today Thursday 13th March 2008. 

The new section of highway is complete after a 16 month construction program.

IPRH Chief Executive Officer, Mr Graeme York, said the opening was an important milestone in Hazelwood’s West Field Mine Development Program.

“This Rivers and Roads Relocation Project (RRR) provides Hazelwood with access to coal reserves that will secure fuel supply for the expected life of the power station,” Mr York said.

In conjunction with the opening of the new section of Strzelecki Highway, Marretts Road will also be re-opened and the north-west section of Brodribb Road will be closed as part of the next stage of the RRR project.

VicRoads Regional Director, Ms Patricia Liew will join Mr York in officially opening the new section of highway in front of invited guests. 

Mr York praised the efforts of all those involved in the RRR project.

“The expertise and dedication of our major Alliance contractor, RTL, and IPRH personnel has helped us deliver this project six weeks ahead of the original schedule,” Mr York said.

“The co-operation and support of VicRoads, Latrobe City Council and the local community have also been major factors in completing the project safely and with the least possible disruption.”

From Thursday the old section of Strzelecki Highway and Brodribb Road (west) will be closed permanently to all traffic.  

Redevelopment of the Yinnar Road – the designated new overdimensional (OD9) route – along the Hazelwood pondage foreshore will commence later in March with an expected completion date of late May or early June.  

Another major element of the RRR project involving construction of a new 10 kilometre open flow section of the Morwell River is scheduled for completion in 2010.