# Victoria road infrastructure deterioration

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/victoria-road-infrastructure-deterioration
> Updated: 2026-09-27T06:09:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

The condition of Victoria’s road network has come under increasing scrutiny due to rising deterioration and safety concerns. An audit by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) revealed that nearly half of the state’s roads were in poor or very poor condition in 2024, up from 39 per cent in 2021. The report noted that renewal spending is failing to keep pace with deterioration, particularly in regional areas, with one-third of these roads potentially having only five years of useful life remaining.

Subsequent findings from the RACV 2026 My Country Road survey highlighted growing public dissatisfaction, with 71 per cent of respondents identifying potholes and rough surfaces as primary issues. Significant safety concerns were noted on the Western Highway, and tyre-related breakdown callouts reached 112,000 over the past year. While Premier Ben Carroll has pledged to bring road repairs back in-house, critics have accused the state government of mismanaging the network by scaling back preventive maintenance. Meanwhile, maintenance spending has exceeded $1 billion for the 2026-27 period, following a 400 per cent increase in repair costs over the last five years.

## Claims

- The cost of road repairs in Victoria has risen 400 per cent over the past five years. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Road maintenance spending surpassed $1 billion in 2026-27. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Premier Ben Carroll has pledged to bring road repairs back in-house. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The RACV 2026 My Country Road survey identified potholes and rough surfaces as the top issue for 71 per cent of respondents. (single source)
- 73 per cent of survey respondents named road resurfacing as the highest-priority improvement. (single source)
- Tyre-related breakdown callouts rose to 112,000 in the last 12 months. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-27: Victoria regional roads face scrutiny amid rising repair costs and safety concerns

A RACV survey reveals 71 per cent of drivers cite poor road surfaces as a major issue in Victoria, while experts criticize government mismanagement and rising repair costs.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/victoria-regional-roads-face-scrutiny-amid-rising-repair-costs-and-safety-concerns

### 2026-09-14: Victoria road conditions report shows rising deterioration

A Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report reveals that nearly half of Victoria’s state roads are in poor or very poor condition, as repair spending fails to keep pace with rapid deterioration.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/victoria-road-conditions-report-shows-rising-deterioration

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Cite as: Victoria road infrastructure deterioration. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/victoria-road-infrastructure-deterioration