The Andrews Labor Government is delivering on its promises and making the roads Victorians rely on every day safer and more reliable as part of a huge investment in our suburbs and regions.
Over the last four years, the Labor Government has overhauled Victoria’s road network – upgraded the Monash and Tullamarine freeways, alongside fixing hundreds of kilometres of suburban streets.
But as Victoria grows, we know our investments must keep pace. That’s why, on top of fully funding North East Link and getting rid of 25 more dangerous and congested level crossings, the Victorian Budget 2019/20 improves roads, removes bottlenecks and saves lives.
The Budget includes $608 million to upgrade the local roads drivers use every day, and more than $486 million to lifting the standard of country roads.
This investment is on top of the $87.2 million already committed for rural road rebuilds and will be overseen by the State’s dedicated country roads authority – Regional Roads Victoria – established by the Government.
The Government will invest $52.9 million to improve a dozen key traffic bottlenecks across Victoria with new signals, pedestrian crossings and more parking options.
And $60.8 million will keep Ballarat moving by unlocking some of the city’s worst bottlenecks. A blitz of five problem intersections and surrounding roads will start this year – on top of major upgrades already taking place along Mair and Sturt streets.
The Budget provides $120.6 million over four years to crack down on dangerous driving – boosting mobile camera hours by 75 per cent to prevent deaths and injuries, particularly on regional roads, while also planning for new road safety technology.
More children and their families will have a safer trip to school with $19.3 million to ensure that more than 3,000 school crossing supervisors across the state can continue their great work.
And because the smallest projects can often make a big difference, we’re investing $45.4 million in new bike and pedestrian paths across our suburbs, including $27.3 million for safety upgrades and dedicated bike lanes on St Kilda Road and a lighting upgrade of the Upfield bike path.
The Budget will also improve worker safety and travel times for motorists during the State’s biggest ever construction boom with $4 million over four years to implement the Safer Sites, Safer Speeds initiative, which will ensure speed limits around construction zones are lifted out of hours and when it’s safe to do so.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Roads, Road Safety and the TAC Jaala Pulford
“We promised to fix local roads that people in our suburbs and regions use every day – and this Budget delivers.”
“There’s nothing more frustrating than getting stuck in traffic when all you want to do is get home – that’s why we’re removing bottlenecks, upgrading intersections and building the projects we need to get you home sooner.”
“This Budget is delivering the upgrades Victorians need – big and small – to get you where you need to go.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020