Three new projects announced to upgrade Melbourne's suburban roads

Three new projects that will help fix some of Melbourne’s most notorious roads have been announced by the Australian Government, to be delivered as part of the $1.2 billion Road Blitz and in partnership with the Victorian Government. 

These projects will upgrade roads, bust congestion and improve safety in Melbourne’s outer suburbs – some of Australia’s fastest growing suburbs – to get commuters home sooner and safer, allowing them to spend less time on the road and more time with their loved ones. 

“We’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former Coalition government. 

“We’re fixing roads right across the state; we’ve doubled out road maintenance funding to local councils, reinstated road maintenance indexation that was scrapped under the former government, and are investing heavily in our regions and cities. 

“We’re fixing these notorious choke points and planning future road improvements to cater for our growing suburbs,” Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said. 

“As Melbourne’s population continues to grow, we are investing in critical projects that will create better journeys for motorists. 

“We are getting on delivering vital road upgrades across wider Melbourne that will provide safer and faster journeys for motorists,” VIC Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams said. 

The three new projects include: 

• $25 million for planning and development at the Five-Ways intersection, Warrandyte South 

• $10 million to plan for upgrades to the High Street Road and Mowbray Drive intersection, Wantirna South 

• $3.5 million towards planning work to upgrade the Maroondah Highway and Yarra Road intersection, Croydon North 

The Five-Ways project will upgrade the intersection at Ringwood-Warrandyte Road, Croydon Road, Husseys Lane and Brumbys Road in Warrandyte South. This upgrade will not only cut congestion, but it will also improve safety for the 8,000 vehicles that drive through this intersection each day. 

“The 5-Ways intersection has been the site of a number of accidents and near misses. 

“As a lawyer working in the area of transport accidents, I understand the devastating impact of the road trauma. That’s why I’m proud that a re-elected Albanese will upgrade the Five Ways Intersection to reduce congestion and get people home safely,” Federal Labor Candidate for Menzies Gabriel Ng said. 

In the south, the $10 million investment will enable planning for upgrades to the High Street Road and Mowbray Drive intersection in Wantirna South to get underway. The planning phase will help identify ways to ease congestion as well as reduce travel times as the area grows. 

The funding will go towards early development of a new signalised T-intersection that will enhance the safety of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists turning into High Street while, at the same time, improving connectivity to the Blind Creek Trail for the local community. 

Lastly in Croydon North, the $3.5 million investment will help develop a business case to improve the Maroondah Highway and Yarra Road intersection. 

Yarra Road can get congested during drop off and pick up hours of the five schools in the vicinity. The funding will allow exploration to begin on ways to ease congestion, improve safety and pedestrian accessibility, including on Kent Avenue. 

The $1.2 billion Road Blitz is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, each contributing $1 billion and $200 million respectively. 

“As a local who drives through this intersection regularly, I know building traffic signals will potentially save the lives of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” Federal Member for Aston Mary Doyle said. 

“Planning improvements at this intersection will improve road safety, ease congestion and make it easier for pedestrians in Croydon North to get across the road. 

“Only a re-elected Labor Government will provide the lifesaving safety improvements the Five Ways intersection needs,” Federal Labor Candidate for Deakin Matt Gregg said. 

“These upgrades will change the way people move for the better – cutting congestion and delivering safer journeys for motorists. 

“We are upgrading roads across Melbourne’s growing suburbs so that families can get home sooner and safer,” VIC Member for Northern Metropolitan Sonja Terpstra said. 

Source: Premier of Victoria – Media Centre; Infrastructure Magazine