The Federal and Victorian governments have announced a $114 million investment for the construction of the Ison Road Rail Overpass.
Residents in the Wyndham West and Werribee regions are expected to benefit from the construction of a road overpass bridge across the Melbourne-Geelong Railway line. The project scope includes opportunities for active transport, including a walking and cycling path as well as dedicated on road bike lanes in both directions.
The project aims to provide a vital link between Wyndham West and Melbourne and Geelong via the Princes Freeway, give Wyndham West residents access to surrounding areas and broader transport networks, reduce traffic in central Werribee, thereby reducing congestion and improving journey reliability to Princes Freeway and the Werribee Town Centre and improve the amenity and safety of local streets and Werribee Town Centre.
More than $10 million has already been invested for early works on the overpass, which will extend south towards Browns Road and connect with a section of Ison Road, to be constructed by Wyndham Council.
Planning works and community consultation on the proposed design and planning pathway, which attracted more than 4000 participants, have since been completed.
Major Road Projects Victoria is also in the early stages of planning for potential improvements to the Werribee Main Road and Princes Freeway Interchange in Werribee, including traffic modelling, planning studies, and environmental and historic heritage investigations.
This planning work will consider future upgrades to the interchange, including on and off-ramps to the Princes Freeway, as well as active transport and cycling options.
The overpass is expected to cater for nearly 29,000 daily users by 2036.
Federal Member for Lalor Joanne Ryan said the project would cater for Wyndham’s rapid growth.
“Investment in safer, more reliable roads in an area of such significant growth will provide long-term benefits to locals,” Ryan said.
“It will provide an easy alternative for motorists to get to the Princes Freeway and make the centre of Werribee a safer and less congested shopping and business district.”
Victorian Treasurer and State Member for Werribee Tim Pallas said the project would be a welcome upgrade for Melbourne’s west.
“Our Werribee and Wyndham community is continuing to grow, with a population forecast to reach more than 520,000 people by 2041, so we are investing in transport infrastructure that will improve travel now and into the future,” Pallas said.
The Ison Road Rail Overpass is expected to begin construction in 2023.
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