The Victorian State Government has announced a $601 million road package in the State’s Budget aimed at delivering improved road works for outer-suburban and regional areas.

 

The budget includes a $50 million Koo Wee Rup bypass  and the next stage of the $20 million Dingly bypass, aimed at easing conjestion throughout the state.

 

The Budget also provides funding for projects in western Victoria including:

  • $15 million to create overtaking lanes on the Princes Highway west of Colac;
  • $5 million for planning works on duplication of the Princes Highway from Colac to Winchelsea;
  • $3 million to construct noise barriers on the Geelong Ring Road;
  • $4.5 million for the Ballarat-Buninyong Road upgrade; and
  • $2.5 million to start the Ballarat Western Link Road upgrade.

 

"We have also allocated $50 million for the next stage of the Western Highway duplication from Burrumbeet to Beaufort and $92.6 million for the M80 upgrade from Edgars Road to Plenty Road." Victorian Roads Minister Terry Mulder said.

 

Mr Mulder said a further $21 million had been allocated to the Better Local Roads fund to deliver road infrastructure and safety projects, as well as $23 million for arterial road maintenance.

 

"The Budget allocates $160 million over four years to upgrade country roads and bridges, with 40 rural councils eligible for $1 million from the fund each year to help ease the funding burden,"

 

Mr Mulder said initial funding of $4.8 million had been allocated to the Outer Suburban Arterial Roads Program, which would deliver planning and preconstruction works for duplication projects at Cardinia Road, High Street Road (Wantirna South) and Stud Road (Bayswater).