Funding for better and safer VIC roads to support thousands of jobs

The Victorian Government is continuing to invest in vital road upgrades across the State to get Victorians home sooner and safer with significant funding commitments through the 2022/23 State Budget. 

This year’s Budget includes $213 million to upgrade a 1.6-kilometre stretch of the Mickleham Road in Greenvale, helping improve safety as well as reduce travel times for the thousands of motorists travelling along this road each day. 

The Mickleham Road works will include intersection upgrades, new traffic lights and new pedestrian and cycling paths. This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Government, and it is anticipated to support up to 176 jobs. 

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will also deliver $780 million in funding for a road maintenance blitz across the State, including a $187 million expenditure on road rehabilitation, drainage renewal and bridge works. 

These works will not only provide safer and more efficient journeys but will also deliver a major boost to the freight and tourism industries that rely on these roads. 

The State Government is also investing an additional $226.7 million towards high-priority road and intersection upgrades. This includes the Bass Highway in Kilcunda, the Bellarine Highway in Moolap and Derrimut-Hopkins Road in Tarneit. 

“Every Victorian wants to spend less time stuck in traffic and more time with friends and family doing the things they enjoy – and they want a government that gets on with it. 

“We want everyone to get home safely, so we’ll keep investing in the things we know save lives on our roads,” Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said. 

To keep the 10 Year Road Safety Strategy rolling, the Victorian Government is injecting $263.1 million into this initiative to keep all road users safe. This Strategy will involve more infrastructure upgrades that will benefit motorists as well as cyclists and pedestrians, additional funding for the School Crossing Supervisor program and progressing licensing reform for heavy vehicle drivers. 

An additional $14.7 million will be invested as well in the successful Smarter Roads initiative to ensure traffic management companies and developers only utilise space that they need on Melbourne’s roads. 

To encourage active transport such as cycling and walking, a further $21.8 million is going to be invested to fund projects such as the Westgate Punt and Portarlington to Docklands Ferry that will provide alternatives to travelling by car. 

The State’s unprecedented $90 billion Big Build is supporting Victoria’s economic recovery by creating tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs through projects including the North East Link, regional and suburban roads upgrades and the West Gate Tunnel. 

“Whether it’s building the North East Link, or upgrading the road at the end of your street – we’re getting it done and creating thousands of jobs along the way. 

“As we recover from the pandemic, we know families want to spend more time with their loved ones, so we’ll keep investing in our roads to make sure every Victorians get home safer and sooner,” Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Victorian Budget 22/23