New $1.8 billion funding will aid logistics and transport hubs in Melbourne’s west
A series of roads around the transport and logistics centre of Truganina in Melbourne’s west are set for upgrades worth $1.8 billion.
The Victorian government announcement, which falls under the Outer Suburban Arterial Roads (OSARs) Program banner, will focus on eight roads in Point Cook, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Laverton North, Tarneit and Truganina.
Maintenance works will upgrade over 700km of road, including 30km duplication and widening works, over the next five years to increase capacity and pavement conditions in the city’s west.
The roads in question are:
- Dunnings Road and Palmers Road, from Point Cook Road to Princes Freeway, Point Cook
- Palmers Road, from Princes Freeway to Western Freeway, Truganina
- Derrimut Road, from Sayers Road to Dohertys Road, Tarneit
- Leakes Road, from Fitzgerald Road to Derrimut Road, Truganina
- Dohertys Road, from Fitzgerald Road to Grieve Parade, Laverton North
- Dohertys Road, from Foundation Road to Palmers Road, Truganina
- Princes Freeway/Forsyth Road interchange, Hoppers Crossing
- Duncans Road interchange, Werribee/Werribee South
While much of the press, such as comments from Victorian premier Daniel Andrews calling it “one of the biggest ever projects to update suburban arterial roads”, focuses on the opportunity to create jobs and improve travel times for the region’s growing population, it will be welcome news for transport and logistics workers in the area.
Dohertys Road in particular, which plays a part in three of the upgrades, has been a source of frustration for the Wyndham Industrial Liaison & Development (WILD) Committee, which represents the business at the Laverton North Industrial Precinct.
WILD has campaigned for the duplication of the road and upgrades to the Hume Road and Cherry Lane Intersections via the Fix Dohertys Road campaign since at least 2012.
Construction on the new roads is expected to begin in 2018, with feedback from the community and other interested parties still welcome.
VicRoads is also in the process of engaging local councils, planning authorities, freight operators, and bus companies for local input.