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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

Labor commits $550 million to upgrade freeway in Melbourne’s outer west

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Victoria's Labor government has pledged $550 million to upgrade the Western Freeway between Melton and Caroline Springs ahead of the state election.
  • The plan includes 30 kilometres of new lanes, upgraded interchanges and a half interchange at Mount Cottrell Road, with up to four lanes in each direction.
  • The state funding would supplement $1 billion promised by the Commonwealth government, as Melton's population grows faster than Melbourne's average and local roads face heavy traffic.

Victoria's Labor government has put traffic congestion in Melbourne's outer west at the center of its latest election commitment, promising $550 million to upgrade the Western Freeway.

The money would improve the section between the fast-growing areas of Melton and Caroline Springs. It would come on top of the $1 billion promised by the Commonwealth government ahead of the 2025 election.

I said as a new premier my first task is to listen to what Victorians' needs are.

· Ben CarrollVictoria's premier presented the freeway pledge as part of his government's election commitment.

Under the plan, authorities would upgrade the interchanges at Ferris Road, Leakes Road and Hopkins Road. A new half interchange at Mount Cottrell Road would give local traffic direct access to and from the freeway. The project would add 30 kilometres of lanes, with up to four lanes in both directions, while keeping the speed limit at 100 km/h across the upgraded sections.

“ I said as a new premier my first task is to listen to what Victorians' needs are,” Premier Ben Carroll said. “They told me very clearly they wanted a relentless focus on the basics and there was nothing more important than getting our road infrastructure right and making sure hard-working Victorians can spend less time in traffic and get to spend more time with their families.”

They told me very clearly they wanted a relentless focus on the basics and there was nothing more important than getting our road infrastructure right and making sure hard-working Victorians can spend less time in traffic and get to spend more time with their families.

· Ben CarrollCarroll explained the government's stated rationale for prioritizing the freeway upgrade.

Carroll said planning had already begun using federal funding and described the pledge as Victoria “coming to the table as well.” The November state election is approaching, while Melton City Council continues to advocate for new train stations and major road upgrades to ease pressure on railway stations and the busy freeway.

The council says the area's population is increasing by 6.61% a year, more than three times Melbourne's 2% average. It has also argued that major arterial roads in Melton are not suitable for current traffic volumes, citing unsealed shoulders, no public lighting, open drains and a lack of bike and pedestrian paths.

coming to the table as well

· Ben CarrollCarroll described Victoria's contribution alongside the Commonwealth government's funding pledge.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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