Apprentices, trainees and former autoworkers are among those that will benefit from the Andrews Labor Government’s Western Roads Upgrade, which will slash congestion and create more than 1,200 jobs.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan and Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll today to tour Victoria Polytechnic, where more than 120 trainees, cadets and apprentices will be trained to work on the Western Roads Upgrade.
The $1.8 billion project is one of the biggest-ever upgrades to Melbourne’s suburban road network and will deliver a combination of road widening, duplications and intersection upgrades to fix eight congested roads in Melbourne’s west over the next five years.
Netflow consortium has been selected as the preferred tender to build eight major road upgrades in Point Cook, Truganina, Tarneit, Laverton North, Werribee and Hoppers Crossing.
In an Australian-first, the consortium will maintain more than 260 kilometres of roads through Melbourne’s west for the next 20 years as part of the Public Private Partnership – keeping more than 200 workers in long term employment.
Former automotive workers, cadets, trainees, apprentices and local firms will share in work building and maintaining the revamped road network.
The upgrades and ongoing maintenance will cut congestion on these key arterial roads, remove bottlenecks and provide more efficient freight routes to keep trucks off local roads.
Major construction is ready to start in early 2018 and be complete by 2021.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’re not wasting a moment getting on with these vital upgrades. Work starts next year to get the west moving again and create local jobs.”
“This multibillion upgrade will not only fix some of Melbourne’s most congested roads – it will create more than 1,200 jobs in Melbourne’s west.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
“Melbourne’s west has been neglected for too long – only Labor is fixing the suburban roads working people rely on every day.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll
“From former auto workers to young Victorians looking to get a start in the workforce – our major projects are creating opportunities for local people and local businesses.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020