The Federal Government is investing $1.1 billion to upgrade Victoria’s Western Freeway, the major highway connecting Melbourne to Adelaide.
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Around 86,000 vehicles travel the Western Freeway stretch between Melton and Caroline Springs every single day, with this figure expected to rise to approximately 113,000 by 2031.
It’s a critical transport route for passengers and freight, which links with major freight routes throughout the state including Midland, Sunraysia, Pyrenees, Henty and Wimmera Highways.
The investment will improve capacity and safety along the freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs.
“We’re investing in the transport projects that matter most to Victorians, delivering a rail link to Melbourne Airport, fixing our regional and suburban roads, and strengthening our busiest freeways,” says transport minister Catherine King.
“We’re investing $2.1 billion in the Western Freeway corridor, $7 billion in the Melbourne Airport rail link, and $1 billion in a suburban road blitz because we care about our cities, our suburbs and our regions.
“The Liberals and Nationals starved Victorians of infrastructure funding over their decade in government, and we won’t let that happen again.”
To start, $100 million will be put towards planning and early works to upgrade the intersection of the freeway with Brewery Tap Road in Warrenheip and then $6.1 million will be allocated to two bridge strengthening upgrades between Stawell and the South Australian border.
The bridge strengthening works will occur over the Melbourne-Adelaide Railway Line and Dadswells Bridge over the Mt William Creek Floodplain.
Federal member for Gorton Brendan O’Connor says those who regularly travel this stretch of the Western Freeway understand how badly this investment is needed.
“The Liberals ignored this for nine years while the traffic got heavier and the road conditions worsened,” he says.
“Only Labor Governments invest in the west.”
Construction of these bridge upgrades is expected to commence in 2025 and end by 2026.
These upgrades will enhance productivity and resilience, improve liveability, and promote sustainability.
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