Dear Editor,
Major Projects Victoria recently advised they are now planning for the Western Freeway upgrade which they believe will be completed by the end of 2024.
The planning should have been completed at least five (5) years ago.
The completion of the planning stage does not guarantee that funding will be made available by the government. Duplication of the Western Highway between Buangor and Stawell (except the town bypasses at Beaufort and Ararat) was scheduled to have been completed by the end of 2017. However, Australia’s second busiest highway has not received funding or progressed a single millimeter in the past decade.
The minimum requirement for this project is a minimum of eight (8) lanes between Caroline Springs and Ferris Road continuing as six (6) lanes up to the Bullmans Road interchange, which was not completed fifteen (15) years ago.
To Major Projects VIC, DO NOT use the same design team who seriously messed up the Bacchus Marsh to Geelong connection.
The Victorian government has received billions of dollars ($) from land developers, stamp duty, GST taxes from Melton and Bacchus Marsh residents yet very little expenditure has been reinvested into these communities.
Additionally, the Keilor Melton Highway which is the backup / alternative when the Western Highway is clogged or at a standstill, has not seen any significant duplication improvements between the Regency roundabout and Federation Drive in the past twenty (20) years.
Paul Jenkins
Kurunjang
