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Less Congestion On The Local Roads You Use Every Day

27 April 2016

Victorians will spend less time stuck in traffic with a significant investment in new road projects across Melbourne.

A $6.2 billion package of works is included in the Victorian Budget 2016/17External Link to ease congestion on suburban and outer-suburban roads and reduce travel times, increase safety and improve efficiency.

It will provide $1.46 billion to build the Western Distributor Project, a second river crossing for Melbourne that will cut travel times by 20 minutes to and from Geelong.

The Monash Freeway will be widened and new technology installed to form Australia’s longest stretch of managed motorway, slashing travel times from Melbourne’s south east.

Major new road upgrades will take place across the suburbs, with a $237.9 million package of measures, including:

  • $38.4 million to duplicate Hallam Road between Ormond Road and the South Gippsland Highway and undertake a major upgrade to the intersection of Hallam Road, Evans Road and South Gippsland Highway
  • $50.1 million to upgrade Dohertys Road in Laverton North to increase the road from two lanes to four lanes between Fitzgerald Road and Grieve Parade
  • Up to $139.4 million for Plenty Road in Mill Park to expand the road with an additional lane in each direction between McKimmies Road and Bridge Inn Road

As part of the package, planning will also start on duplicating and improving a range of other congested arterial roads around Melbourne, and work will get underway to investigate more efficient ways to deliver upgrades by partnering with the private sector on packages of suburban road upgrades.

The Andrews Labor Government will fully deliver its commitments to major local road upgrades, including:

  • $154.5 million to complete the duplication of Thompsons Road between Frankston-Dandenong Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road
  • $131.2 million to duplicate Yan Yean Road between Diamond Creek Road and River Avenue as well as upgrading the River Avenue, Kurrak Road and Diamond Creek Road intersections
  • Bolton Street in Eltham will receive $10.2 million to continue work to improve traffic flow on the busy road, between Main Road and Bridge Street
  • $82.2 million for the O’Herns Road Interchange project, assuming a 50 per cent contribution from the Federal Government

Deteriorating and unsafe roads across the state will receive a $130 million boost to have them repaired and resurfaced so that Victorians can arrive at their destination safely.

The intersection of Grange Road and Oakleigh Road in Carnegie will receive new traffic lights as part of the $8.7 million road component of the Road and Rail Minor Works Local Road Solutions Package.

Outer suburban growth areas will now receive assistance with traffic flow on some of Melbourne’s most troublesome arterial roads, with $10 million to expand VicRoads Incident Response Service from freeways to patrol arterial roads.

Sections of the Monash Freeway will also receive a facelift, with a $300,000 graffiti removal blitz along the corridor.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan

“This is an investment that will reduce congestion, cut travel times and improve safety.”

“We’re focusing on upgrading the roads in our growth suburbs, that’s where work is most needed.”

“We promised to upgrade Thompsons Road, Yan Yean Road and Bolton Street and we’re getting it done.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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