The near billion-dollar sum will be used to establish a dedicated country roads body, fix local roads and invest in safety.

Premier Daniel Andrews said it was "the biggest boost to country roads that our state has ever seen".

"This is an unprecedented investment because we know and understand how important it is to have a better regional road network for safety, for productivity and jobs," he told reporters at Ballan on Thursday.

But the Liberal-National opposition said the government was simply playing "catch-up", accusing them of axing $160 million for country roads and bridges back in 2015.

"Country roads have been falling apart for three years because Daniel Andrews decided the cash would be better spent fixing roads around his metropolitan electorate of Mulgrave," opposition roads spokesman David Hodgett said.

'It takes true arrogance to take money from country roads riddled with potholes and falling apart and then spending it in your own metropolitan backyard."

The Labor pledge includes $333 million for a new Ballarat-based roads body, a division of VicRoads to be known as Regional Roads Victoria, charged with the resurface, repair and rebuild of more than 1000 kilometres of roads.

Regional councils would also be able to apply for grants - up to $100 million - to fix damaged roads.

The election-year package focuses on road trauma prevention, with $229 million to be put aside for overtaking lanes, rumble strips and intersection upgrades at high-risk sites.

Almost $100 million has been earmarked for planning and pre-construction of Western Highway bypasses at Beaufort and Ararat, while $40 million has been allocated to an upgrade of the Princes Highway West, from Colac to the South Australian border.

Other major Victorian motorways, including the Calder, Hamilton and Kiewa Valley highways, are set for a boost, as well as local streets in Ballarat and Shepparton, to improve safety and access.

Australian Associated Press