Photo: Premier of Victoria

In an Australian-first, trucks undertaking road works on the Great Ocean Road are now displaying messages in Mandarin and English, to alert international drivers to changed traffic conditions.

The multilingual electronic signs can display 25 different messages and will be used during peak road work periods.

The innovative idea came from a road worker who was using his phone and Google Translate to communicate to some international tourists.

Over seven million people use the Great Ocean Road every year, with the largest proportion of tourists visiting from China.

The Andrews Labor Government has invested $53 million to make the Great Ocean Road safer, with roadside remediation works such as rock netting and retaining walls.

This investment is on top of the $50 million State and Federal program of capital works and maintenance on the Great Ocean Road.