The Calder Freeway upgrade is on course for completion by early next year, with the hope it will streamline road
The Calder Freeway upgrade is on course for completion by early next year, with the hope it will streamline road freight deliveries in and around Melbourne.
The next stage of the $404 million project was completed over the weekend, which opened a new Malmsbury to Elphinstone section of the freeway.
The completion of the 15km stretch of road leaves only another four km to be completed before the project is completed.
Federal member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons says, once completed, the revamped freeway will cut travel times and boost freight efficiency.
“It will deliver faster, more reliable travel times and improve access the ports of Melbourne and Geelong,” he says.
“Better roads and efficient transport operations will also improve the productivity capacity of the region.”
The project also aims to take through traffic from local roads, with Gibbons saying it will improve liveability in local areas as well as attract more tourists.
“The new freeway will redirect 12,000 vehicles per day, including 3,600 trucks, away from Malmsbury, Taradale and Elphinstone,” he says.
Gibbons was joined in witnessing the opening of the next stage of the project by Minister for Ports and Roads Tim Pallas.
He says motorists will enjoy the early benefits of the project, with the Government and its contractors Fulton Hogan completing the Malmsbury to Elphinstone section 12 months ahead of schedule.
Furthermore, Pallas says progress is being made on the final freeway section between Faraday and Harcourt North.
“I look forward to completion of the final Calder link by early next year,” he says.