- Published:
- Wednesday 29 April 2015
The Australian and Victorian Governments will together reduce congestion and travel times on one of Victoria’s busiest and most important roads by adding lanes to CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway.
Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, announced today that the Victorian Government and Transurban had signed a new, robust agreement to deliver the CityLink Tulla Widening Project.
“We’re getting on with the projects our state needs, so people spend less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their families.”
“On average, drivers will save 16 minutes in the morning peak and 17 minutes in the afternoon peak—if you’re flying interstate for business in the morning and coming back in the evening, our upgrade will save you over half an hour on the road.”
“The project is expected to create 1400 direct and indirect jobs.”
“We’re widening this congested freeway from the foot of the CBD to the front door of the terminal.”
“This 24 kilometre upgrade from Power St in Southbank to Melbourne Airport will save businesses thousands of hours a month, and save families the precious extra minutes in the mornings and evenings.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, said the Australian Government will be providing $200 million towards the Tullamarine Freeway upgrades.
“The CityLink-Tullamarine corridor is one of the most heavily congested roads in Melbourne with 210,000 vehicles using this road a day,” Mr Truss said.
“The installation of a freeway management system, including modern technology such as ramp signalling and variable message signs, will help to reduce the congestion while making the roads safer for the large volume of motorists.”
The $1.3 billion project also includes a new bridge over the freeway at Bell St, major improvements to the English St interchange and the widening of the entry ramp from the Bolte Bridge to the West Gate Freeway.
The project will be delivered in two sections, with Melbourne Airport to Bulla Road managed by VicRoads and Bulla Road to Power Street managed by Transurban. The expanded agreement will also mean less disruption for motorists, with major works confined to night periods.
This project has been subject to the Victorian Government’s rigorous Market-Led Proposal guidelines – a transparent and consistent process for assessing offers from private companies to deliver infrastructure projects.
Major construction will start in October 2015 and is due for completion in 2018.
Media Contacts
For Mr Donnellan: Laura Oldfield 0438 523 543
For Mr Truss: Brett Heffernan 0467 650 020