…as road upgrades and bridge improvement work pick up pace
Drivers can look forward to better journeys in Melbourne’s west as work ramps up on key road upgrades and bridge improvement work as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Suburban Roads Upgrade.
Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan visited the site of the first bridge upgrade at Hyde Street in Spotswood, which is part of the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade.
“Whether it’s building more lanes to slash congestion, improving key intersections or carrying out vital upgrades or rehab work—we’re delivering for drivers and communities in Melbourne’s west,” said Allan.
Piling work, new safety barriers and corrosion protection upgrades are underway to strengthen and protect the bridge for the more than 14,000 drivers and hundreds of trucks which travel over it each day.
“The Western Roads Upgrade is delivering major road upgrades and leaving a legacy for communities through Melbourne’s west—including an iconic new sculpture at Duncans Road in Werriee,” said Allan.
Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne said the massive amount of works make local roads smoother, safer and more reliable for commuters “because only Labor delivers for the west”.
The Ballarat Road Bridge spanning the Maribyrnong River will be upgraded next month—adding new safety barriers and strengthening the bridge to better cater for heavy vehicles. Works to improve crossings at Altona, and Brooklyn and Geelong Road, will also begin later this year.
Drivers will also see construction work getting underway at the Forsyth Road interchange and along Palmers Road duplication, with all eight major road upgrades now underway from Altona North to Tarneit.
New lanes will be added to Palmers Road between the Princes Freeway and the Western Freeway, 16 intersections will be upgraded, and the Sayers Road intersection will be smoothed out to improve journeys for 11,000 drivers.
The Forsyth Road intersection upgrade will also see new lanes added, improved access to the Princes Freeway and better north-south traffic flow for 28,000 drivers every day.
More than 1,100 workers are helping deliver the Western Roads Upgrade with major construction due for completion by 2021.
In addition, more than 260 kilometres of arterial roads are being improved, resurfaced and rehabilitated from Footscray to Werribee ahead of a 20-year maintenance program.
As part of the works, an iconic sculpture—which could be up to 15 metres high—will be built at the upgraded Duncans Road interchange. McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery will drive the selection of the new sculpture, and artists with a connection to the western suburbs are encouraged to apply to create it.
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