Road Construction Authority

Full description

Establishment

The Transport Act 1983 (No.9921) significantly restructured the administration of transport functions in Victoria. Under the provisions of the Act a Road Construction Authority was established assuming the functions of the Country Roads Board (VA 722). The Authority commenced operations on 1 July 1983 with a brief to maintain and further improve the State's declared road network.

Functions

The Act sets out the functions of the Road Construction Authority as follows:

to maintain, upgrade and extend the state's declared road network
in conjunction with municipalities, to assist in the maintenance, upgrading and construction of other roads
subject to agreement with the Road Traffic Authority (VA 1036) to purchase, design, construct, erect, install, maintain and operate traffic signals and other traffic facilities for the purposes of traffic management and control
to determine load limits and advisory speed limits for any road, bridge or culvert and to determine maximum speed limits for travel on roads under construction or repair or over bridges or culverts
to provide and maintain roadside reserves adjacent to any road for the use or enjoyment of persons using any such road
to establish guidelines and requirements for the issue of vehicle mass and dimension permits
to compete on the open market for road construction and other projects
to investigate, promote and undertake research into any matter related to the performance of its functions, powers or duties.

Administrative Structure

To carry out its functions the Road Construction Authority, in 1986, comprised three main branches:

The Operations Branch was responsible for those activities of the Road Construction Authority associated with the maintenance and operation of the road network, ensuring its proper maintenance and upgrading where necessary within the limits of available funds.

The Planning and Design Branch was responsible for management and co-ordination of investigation and planning, road design, survey, traffic engineering and bridge engineering functions in order to efficiently identify issues and develop solutions which contributed to the Road Construction Authority's objectives.

The Corporate Administration Branch was responsible for management and co-ordination of finance, management information systems, legal services, property acquisition and disposal, and administration functions and for ensuring the provision of efficient corporate services.

Regional Administration

The Road Construction Authority maintained the system of regional divisions created by its predecessor, the Country Roads Board (VA 722). In 1986 the following divisions existed: Bairnsdale, Ballarat (VA 1020), Benalla, Bendigo, (Dandenong), Geelong, Horsham, (Metropolitan), Traralgon and Warrnambool.

Abolition

The Road Construction Authority ceased functioning on 30 June 1989 when it merged with the Road Traffic Authority (VA 1036) to form the Roads Corporation (VA 2982).

Location of Records

See also List of Holdings 2nd edition 1985, section 3.21.13.