Roads, public transport and major projects such as Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel are front and centre in the Victorian Budget 2016/17 released this week.
The state government’s latest Budget has prioritised Victoria’s road and public transport infrastructure with major investments focused on easing congestion, increasing safety and improving efficiency.
The Budget includes a $6.2 billion package of works to tackle issue such as congestion on suburban and outer-suburban roads.
Notable major infrastructure projects in the limelight include the long-gestating Western Distributor, which the government will provide $1.46 billion to build.
The government will also fully fund the state capital’s new Metro Tunnel. The $10.9 billion project opens up Melbourne’s city rail network through the construction of a two nine-kilometre tunnels under the CBD for the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury train lines.
The government will spend $1.3 billion in regional rail, including $518 million to upgrade the Ballarat line. The Mernda Rail Project is being fully funded by the state, receiving $588 million.
Infrastructure and services, with upgrades to irrigation, water security, mobile blackspots streetscaping and planning work for local projects across the state will receive $325 million.
The budget also funds $427 million in road safety upgrades, most of which will be spent in regional Victoria, as well as a $52 million package of works for the smaller, local roads.
Some major road upgrades and investments include:
– $38.4 million to duplicate Hallam Road between Ormond Road and the South Gippsland Highway and undertake a major upgrade to the intersection of Hallam Road, Evans Road and South Gippsland Highway
– $50.1 million to upgrade Dohertys Road in Laverton North to increase the road from two lanes to four lanes between Fitzgerald Road and Grieve Parade
– Up to $139.4 million for Plenty Road in Mill Park to expand the road with an additional lane in each direction between McKimmies Road and Bridge Inn Road
– $154.5 million to complete the duplication of Thompsons Road between Frankston-Dandenong Road and Berwick-Cranbourne Road
– $131.2 million to duplicate Yan Yean Road between Diamond Creek Road and River Avenue as well as upgrading the River Avenue, Kurrak Road and Diamond Creek Road intersections
– Bolton Street in Eltham will receive $10.2 million to continue work to improve traffic flow on the busy road, between Main Road and Bridge Street
– $82.2 million for the O’Herns Road Interchange project, assuming a 50 per cent contribution from the Federal Government
– $106.7 million to build the six-kilometre Drysdale Bypass, to assist with the rapid population and tourism growth in the state’s south west and reduce heavy vehicle traffic travelling through the centre of the town.
– The duplication of Napier Street in Bendigo, between Weeroona Avenue and Hall Street, will move into the design and construction phase, with $30.48 million to improve traffic flow, increase capacity and provide a safer road network along the corridor.
More information on the 2016/17 Victorian Budget can be found at: https://www.budget.vic.gov.au