MAJOR WORKS SET TO TRANSFORM OUTER-WESTERN ROADS

Local residents and commuters in Melbourne’s west will benefit from a huge package of road upgrade and maintenance works that will cut travel times, improve road safety and better connect communities in this key growth corridor.

The Andrews Labor Government has called for Expressions of Interest for the western package of the Outer Suburban Arterial Roads (OSARs) Program – an Australian first, $1.8 billion investment.

It combines eight high-priority road upgrades with maintenance on more than 750 kilometres of road stretching from Werribee to Footscray, ensuring motorists benefit from new high quality roads while the existing network is maintained to a high standard for years to come.

The upgrades will involve a combination of duplication and widening works to western arterial roads including:

• Dunnings Road and Palmers Road, from Point Cook Road to Princes Freeway, Point Cook
• Palmers Road, from Princes Freeway to Western Freeway, Truganina
• Derrimut Road, from Sayers Road to Dohertys Road, Tarneit
• Leakes Road, from Fitzgerald Road to Derrimut Road, Truganina
• Dohertys Road, from Fitzgerald Road to Grieve Parade, Laverton North
• Dohertys Road, from Foundation Road to Palmers Road, Truganina
• Princes Freeway/Forsyth Road interchange, Hoppers Crossing
• Duncans Road interchange, Werribee/Werribee South

This will transform the outer-western arterial road network by boosting capacity and improving road pavement conditions with intersection upgrades, almost 30 kilometres of lane duplication, and road maintenance.

The community can provide their feedback and help shape upgrade designs, with VicRoads also set to engage local councils, planning authorities, freight operators, and bus companies for local input.

The eight high-priority road upgrades will be delivered within five years, and the maintenance and rehabilitation contract will continue for a further 20 years.

The Request for Proposal is expected to go out in early 2017, with construction expected to begin 2018.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“We know that roads in our growth suburbs often need the most work, and as the population in Wyndham and Melbourne’s west continues to grow, we’re protecting our community’s liveability by building a safer and more reliable road network.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Altona Jill Hennessy

“This record investment will improve travel time for residents in Point Cook and Melbourne’s west. We want to reduce the time that locals spend stuck in traffic so they can spend more time with their families.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Tarneit Telmo Languiller

“This new package of works will ease the congestion that we all face on our roads in the west. This is a fine example on the improvements that the Andrews Government has implemented since being elected in 2014.”