By Dewi Sherry
Premier Daniel Andrews has promised to create more than 1200 jobs in Melbourne’s west in the next five years.
Apprentices, trainees and former auto workers are set to be in demand as the state government’s western roads upgrade begins early next year. The $1.8 billion project is one of the biggest ever upgrades to Melbourne’s suburban road network.
There will be major road upgrades in Point Cook, Truganina, Tarneit, Laverton North, Werribee and Hoppers Crossing. The upgrades will slash congestion and, according to Mr Andrews, benefit apprentices, trainees and former autoworkers.
They will deliver a combination of road widening, duplications and intersection upgrades to congested roads.
Major construction will be ready to start in early 2018 and be complete by 2021.
“We’re not wasting a moment getting on with these vital upgrades,” Mr Andrews said. “Work starts next year to get the west moving again and create local jobs.
“This multi-billion upgrade will not only fix some of Melbourne’s most congested roads – it will create more than 1200 jobs in Melbourne’s west.”
Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan said Melbourne’s west has been neglected for too long.
“Labor is fixing the suburban roads working people rely on every day,” he said.
The upgrades and maintenance are designed to cut congestion on key arterial roads, remove bottlenecks and provide more efficient freight routes to keep trucks off local roads.
Wyndham acting mayor Kim McAliney said the works would include the duplication and widening of some of Wyndham’s busiest roads, such as sections of Dunnings and Palmers roads in Point Cook, Derrimut Road in Tarneit, Leakes Road in Truganina, Dohertys Road in Laverton North, the Princes Freeway and Forsyth Road interchange in Hoppers Crossing and the Duncans Road interchange in Werribee South.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the state government to attract more funding to our region,” Cr McAliney said.
