Mulder – Infrastructure budget delivers massive funding boost for roads

· Coalition Government delivers major new job-creating road infrastructure program
· Major investment in State-shaping road project with new and improved
regional and suburban roads
· 2014-15 Victorian State Budget is building a better road network

Mega-projects such as the $8-10 billion Western Section of the East West Link and the $850 million Citylink-Tulla Widening Project will transform our freeway network, while the 2014-15 Victorian State Budget will inject a further $1.5 billion into new and improved regional and suburban roads.

Minister for Roads Terry Mulder said the Victorian Coalition Government is building a better road network for all Victorians.

“Our investment will go towards both massive infrastructure projects, like the full East West Link and the Citylink-Tulla Widening, as well as crucial projects such as regional road duplications, level crossing removals and road maintenance,” Mr Mulder said.

“These projects headline an unprecedented investment in our road network, which is vital to prosperity and liveability – connecting our cities and towns, reducing travel times and congestion.

“The Western Section of the East West Link will complete the 18km connection between the Eastern Freeway and Western Ring Road and transform Melbourne’s road network in a way not seen since the construction of the Westgate Bridge and Citylink.

“The CityLink-Tulla Widening project will boost capacity by 30 per cent on one of Melbourne’s busiest road corridors, cutting travel times and reducing the risk of accidents,” Mr Mulder said.

Key road projects included in the State Budget include:

· $362 million for the Princes Highway duplication between Winchelsea
and Colac;
· $12.9 million for duplication of Pioneer Road in Geelong;
· $685.3 million to remove level crossings at Blackburn Road in
Blackburn, Burke Road in Glen Iris, Main Road in St Albans and North
Road in Ormond;
· an extra $130 million for road maintenance and restoration, as well as
funding for bushfire management;
· $56.2 million for the Transport Solutions initiative which delivers
targeted projects that reduce bottlenecks on key freight routes in
regional Victoria;
· $23.6 million for projects to relieve congestion on suburban roads; and
· $31.8 million for a new interchange on the Princes Highway at Sand
Road.

The 2014-15 Victorian State Budget will also ensure vital planning and development can begin on important projects including the Drysdale Bypass, Westall Road Extension, a Mordialloc Bypass and an upgrade of Edgars Road.
It also includes funding for previously announced projects such as the Calder Interchange at Ravenswood and upgrade of the Great Ocean Road.

Mr Mulder said the road improvements in this Budget will benefit all Victorians, delivering better, safer and less congested roads right across Victoria.