$992.3 million to improve Victoria's roads

The Brumby Labor Government will inject $992.3 million to improve Victoria’s road network, with the 2009 State Budget marking the start of the delivery of the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan, which will create a world-class transport network and deliver up to 10,000 jobs a year.

Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said the Brumby Labor Government was investing for the future of Victorian families by reducing congestion, connecting important parts of the State and making our road network safer.

“The Brumby Labor Government’s State Budget starts delivery of our $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan, which will build a world-class transport system for the state and secure jobs – with this budget alone securing up to 35,000 Victorian jobs,” Mr Pallas said.

“By investing in new roads, making our roads safer and tackling congestion we are generating thousands of jobs across the State, driving new economic growth and providing better transport for Victorian families and businesses.”

Mr Pallas said the 2009 State Budget roads package came on top of the $1.6 billion committed to major metropolitan road projects currently underway, including the $1.39 billion M1-CityLink-West Gate Upgrade.

The 2009 State Budget metropolitan roads package includes:

• $354.3 million over four years for the Peninsula Link project, a 25 kilometre, toll-free, four lane connection between EastLink at Carrum Downs and Mt Martha, securing 4000 jobs over the life of the project;
• $206 million for outer metropolitan and regional road improvements, including $74.6 million for the 3.5 kilometre Dingley Arterial to connect the South Gippsland Highway to Westall Road which will begin in 2010 – securing up to 200 jobs in construction;
• $13.3 million for noise walls on major arterial roads;
• $5 million for a Hoddle Street Engineering Investigation; and
• $1 million for scoping works for a sophisticated Urban Road Management Systems program for the future.

Mr Pallas said work on the Peninsula Link project would commence this year and provide 4000 direct jobs and significant economic stimulus for the state and national economy.

“Peninsula Link will significantly reduce congestion on the busy Frankston Freeway and Moorooduc Highway and will enable motorists to travel from the heart of Melbourne to Rosebud without facing a single traffic light,” he said.

Mr Pallas said he looked forward to continuing to work with the Rudd Federal Government to deliver even more road projects under the Building Australia Program.

The Brumby Labor Government is contributing $390.1 million to $1.9 billion in Nation Building (Auslink II) road projects being delivered in partnership with the Rudd Federal Government.


“The Brumby Labor Government is working shoulder to shoulder with the Rudd Federal Government to make the right investments to see Victorians through the Global Financial Crisis and build for the future,” he said.

Road projects to be delivered in partnership with the Rudd Federal Government include Victoria’s contribution of $129 million for Stage 1A of the $2.25 billion M80 Ring Road Upgrade project which will widen the road between Sydney Road and the Tullamarine Freeway.

Mr Pallas said $25 million would be invested over four years to build a new interchange at the Kings Road intersection with the Calder Freeway which would improve safety along this section of the freeway and enhance local access to growing suburbs.

The interchange will be complemented by a $12 million duplication of Kings Road between Melton Highway and Palmerston Crescent in Taylors Lakes.

The Brumby Labor Government will invest $74.6 million for the 3.5 kilometre Dingley Arterial between Perry Road and Springvale Road which will begin in 2010, connecting the South Gippsland Highway to Westall Road. The Dingley Arterial will reduce congestion in central Dandenong and open access to growing industrial hubs like Keysborough.

Local communities will also benefit from $13.3 million to mitigate the impact of noise associated with traffic on existing freeways.

The $5 million in funding for Hoddle Street will allow for detailed engineering work into the feasibility of grade separating key junctions and an assessment of solutions for public transport users and motorists at all major Hoddle Street intersections.

Grade separating some of these junctions has the potential to improve the operation of Melbourne’s central road system for trams, buses, cars and commercial vehicles.

Mr Pallas said a $5.4 million suite of carpooling initiatives would encourage carpooling over the short, medium and long term.

“Safely increasing the average number of occupants in private cars has the potential to alleviate congestion, particularly at peak times,” Mr Pallas said.

“If we can reduce the number of single passenger vehicles on our roads, particularly in peak periods, we will be able to use our existing roads more efficiently and reduce congestion on our road network.”

Mr Pallas said that an additional $22.6 million would be provided for road maintenance in the 2009-10 financial year.