Metropolitan Region VicRoads road program update
DR ELIZABETH GIBSON, General Manager of the CMPA reports on a briefing session for the Metropolitan Region VicRoads roads program.
Dr Elizabeth Gibson attended a briefing session for the Metropolitan region VicRoads roads program in Richmond earlier this month. There were also rural regional briefing sessions held across Victoria to which CMPA members were also invited.
The Victorian Coalition Government released a major roads infrastructure program for 2014-15. The Victorian State Budget will inject a further $1.5 billion into new and improved regional and suburban roads. Mega-projects such as the $8-10 billion Western Section of the East West Link and the $850 million Citylink-Tulla Widening Project is said to transform the freeway network.
“The CityLink-Tulla Widening project will boost capacity by 30 per cent on one of Melbourne’s busiest road corridors, cutting travel times and reducing the risk of accidents,” Mr Mulder, Minister for roads said.
The Melrose Drive to Bulla road section (2.5 km) will go out to tender late this year and the Airport to Melrose Drive section (a further 5.5 km) is in the planning phase.
Key road projects included in the State Budget include:
- $362 million for the Princes Highway duplication between Winchelsea and Colac;
- $12.9 million for duplication of Pioneer Road in Geelong;
- $685.3 million to remove level crossings at Blackburn road in Blackburn, Burke road in Glen Iris, Main road in St Albans and North road in Ormond. This will see the rail going underground and 2 new train stations (Blackburn and St Albans). Additionally, there will be planning in 2014/15 for a further removal of 7 level crossings;
- an extra $130 million for road maintenance and restoration($517 million for road maintenance in total), as well as funding for bushfire management;
- $56.2 million for the Transport Solutions initiative which delivers targeted projects to reduce bottlenecks on key freight routes in regional Victoria;
- $23.6 million for projects to relieve congestion on suburban roads; and
- $31.8 million for a new interchange on the Princes Highway at Sand road.
The 2014-15 Victorian State Budget will also ensure vital planning and development can begin on important projects including the Drysdale Bypass, Westall road Extension, a Mordialloc Bypass and an upgrade of Edgars road. It also includes funding for previously announced projects such as the Calder Interchange at Ravenswood and upgrade of the Great ocean road.
From 1 July 2014 VicRoads have a new drug and alcohol policy that includes random drug testing for projects over $10 million.
Further information can be found on www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
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