The Maroondah Highway will close through the ‘Black Spur’, between Healesville and Narbethong, for daily tree removal works starting today (Mon., Mar. 16).

Closures will be set up daily from 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday, until Thursday, March 26. The road will re-open each day after 3.30pm.

Electronic signs are in place to safely guide motorists through the detour, using the Melba and Goulburn Valley Highways through Yea and Alexandra.

This is a significant detour that could add more than an hour to the journey. Drivers are encouraged to plan their travel outside of works hours, or to allow extra travel time.

The road will remain open for visitors and local traffic during the morning and afternoon peaks, school holidays, and on Fridays and weekends.

A closure during daylight hours is necessary to remove 98 trees and prune large limbs from another 28 trees. Crews will use a four-axle all-terrain crane which takes up most of the road.

Another stage of closures will take place from Monday, April 20.

The Department of Transport thanks drivers for their patience during these important works.