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From the Office of the Minister for Roads and Ports
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Tuesday, May 4, 1999
$255 MILLION TO EXTEND EASTERN FREEWAY TO RINGWOOD, $175 MILLION FOR NEW HALLAM BYPASS
The State Government will spend $255 million to extend the Eastern Freeway from Springvale Rd to Ringwood, the Minister for Roads and Ports, Geoff Craige, announced today.
The allocation is among four major roads projects worth $567.3 million announced as part of today's 1999-2000 State Budget and funded through the Better Roads Fund.
Mr Craige said the project, which extends the Eastern Freeway 5.5 kilometres from Springvale Rd to Ringwood and creates a continuous six lane divided freeway, was a vital link for Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
He said the extension would provide eastern suburbs residents a faster and smoother route to and from the city and alleviate traffic concerns where the freeway now ends at Springvale Rd.
But the funding requirement, Mr Craige said, was subject to the outcome of an independent investigation of tunnel options currently underway.
"Today's announcement to fund the Eastern Freeway extension will fill a significant gap in Melbourne's road network in the eastern suburbs and further strengthens the government's commitment to the east," Mr Craige said.
"Not only does it complete part of the Metropolitan Transport Corridor but it minimises significant traffic congestion costs for local residents and all road users."
Mr Craige said work on the Eastern Freeway extension could begin as early as this year subject to the tunnel costing findings.
"This project provides major improvements to the efficiency of freight movements, business and personal travel to and from the eastern suburbs. In particular it improves accessibility for motorists in the outer eastern suburbs and the Ringwood centre," he said.
"The economic returns that this project will generate ensures that the financial benefit to Victorians will be significant and substantial. Early analysis has estimated that the government's investment in this vital piece of infrastructure will return over $1 billion to the community."
Mr Craige said funding for the project was thanks to Victoria's Better Roads program which has allocated $1.2 billion to Victorian roads since 1993.
"The eastern freeway extension is an integral element in the State Government's ongoing program to provide Victorians with world class infrastructure."
The much-anticipated Hallam Bypass, which will link Gippsland to the city and eliminate massive traffic snarls in Hallam and Narre Warren, was also given the green light.
Announcing the $175 million bypass, Mr Craige said the project would be a seven kilometre, four lane freeway linking the Monash Freeway (formerly South Eastern Freeway) at Doveton to the start of the Berwick Bypass at Narre Warren.
He said the works would also see the Monash Freeway widened to six lanes between Heatherton Road and the new bypass.
Mr Craige said local traffic snarls and delays along the Princes Highway in Hallam and Narre Warren would soon become a thing of the past.
"Construction will begin early next year, for completion in late 2004," he said.
The Minister said the Hallam Bypass had been identified as a link of national and regional importance. He said it would strengthen the link between Gippsland and the city and take massive local traffic pressure off roads in Narre Warren and Hallam.
"This Bypass will be a tremendous boost to the region, encouraging economic development and investment," the Premier said.
"Industry in the Latrobe Valley will be linked to ports, manufacturing centres and national export industries in metropolitan Melbourne, significantly reduce traffic congestion in Casey and improve safety.
The Government has also announced $118.5 million for the upgrade of the Princes Freeway between Geelong and Melbourne.
"The Government has requested the Federal Government recognise the freeway as a Road of National Importance and contribute funding to complete the upgrade of this major Victorian road," the Minister said.
Mr Craige said $18.8 million would be injected into one of the northern suburbs' busiest roads, Cooper Street, Epping, to combat congestion and provide a safer route for traffic.
He said the total duplication project would extend for 5.4 km from Yale Drive, Epping, through to east of the Hume Highway, and would be completed in three stages.
"The growth in Cooper and High Streets has meant that traffic now banks up. It is one of the busiest arterial roads in the developing northern suburbs and in recognition of its importance, the first stage of major duplication works will commence this year," he said.
Mr Craige said the State Government was committed to providing Victorians with world class infrastructure, with the Better Roads program allocating $1.2 billion to Victorian roads since 1993.
Media inquiries: Amanda Scanlan, (03) 9651 5799 or (0419) 892552