The Victorian State Government has announced a $1.8 billion package of road upgrade and maintenance works for Melbourne’s outer-western suburbs.
The Outer Suburban Arterial Roads program will aim to cut travel times, improve safety and better connect communities in the rapidly growing area.
More than 700km of road will be upgraded and maintained under the scheme, including a combination of duplication and widening works that will involve improving pavement conditions with intersection upgrades and almost 30km of lane duplication.
The $1.8 billion figure includes $700 million set aside to maintain the network to a high standard for the next 20 years.
The scheme is now open to public feedback while VicRoads will also engage local councils, planning authorities, freight operators and bus companies.
Expressions of interest will be invited until early 2017, with construction expected to begin in 2018.
“This is one of the biggest ever projects to update suburban arterial roads – and it’s going to create jobs, cut travel times and congestion and improve safety,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“We’re building better roads for Victorian families to get them home safer and sooner to their loved ones.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas added: “Victoria is breaking new ground with this project, one that stacks up, and will protect our liveability by building a safer and more reliable network.”