Victoria’s roads and rail infrastructure will receive a boost following the release of the Victorian Government’s 2018/19 Budget which includes almost $4.3 billion for better roads and $1.9 billion to continue to upgrade the public transport network.

This year’s budget states that the total infrastructure investment is expected to support the creation of over 75,000 new jobs.

In his treasurer’s message, Tim Pallas MP, Treasurer of Victoria, said, “For the past three years, we’ve been getting things done. Dangerous and congested level crossings have been removed across Melbourne.

“Roads are being upgraded and widened to get people home sooner. New rail lines are being built to connect our suburbs and towns. More doctors and nurses are treating more patients in better hospitals. Dozens of new schools are giving kids the education they need to set them up for the future. Thousands of new police officers are being recruited to keep people safe. And we’re taking significant action to curb family violence.

“These are the things we said we would do. And we are getting them done. The Victorian Budget 2018/19 continues this momentum.”

Funding for new road projects

North East Link
The Government is committed to moving forward major road projects in the state including $110 million to fast track the completion of detailed design and planning for the North East Link, which will be the biggest transport project in Victoria’s history.
The project will create 10,000 jobs and this investment will help fast track the completion of design and procurement work so the Government can seek expressions of interest in 2018/19.

Mordialloc Bypass
This project is receiving a further $75 million to build a four lane freeway connection between the Mornington Peninsula Freeway at Springvale Road and the Dingley Bypass, bringing the total investment to $375 million.
Monash Freeway
$712 million will be invested in the second stage of the Andrews Labor Government’s upgrade to the Monash Freeway, to widen the Monash from Chadstone to Pakenham.

Suburban roads
This Budget will see $2.2 billion invested in the Suburban Roads Upgrade in Melbourne’s northern and southeastern suburbs, building on the Western Roads Upgrade funded in last year’s budget. This will upgrade and improve local roads in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

There will also be $116 million to repair roads across metropolitan Melbourne to improve safety on the road network; $22.7 million for projects that encourage more Victorians to walk or ride; and $21.1 million to strengthen bridges across Victoria, including bridges on key freight routes, the St Kilda Junction tram bridge and other related bridge upgrades.

Upgrading existing regional roads

In addition to investment in new major projects this budget also includes $941 million to overhaul country and regional roads.

This includes:

  • $433 million for regional road restoration, including $100 million for the Fixing Country Roads Fund to restore both our state and local country roads to good condition
  • $261 million for road upgrades in regional Victoria
  • $229 million for safety upgrades to our regional road network
  • $17.4 million to establish Regional Roads Victoria

Public transport funding

Victoria’s rail infrastructure and services are one the the key focuses of this budget announcement with $1.9 billion allocated to improve public transport for the state’s commuters.

Some of these infrastructure investments include:

  • $704 million for public transport in regional areas, including $313 million to upgrade the Shepparton line
  • $572 million for the duplication of the Cranbourne line, power and signalling upgrades from the city to Cranbourne and Pakenham and detailed design work to enable new high capacity metro trains to run to Sunbury
  • $89.4 million for more services on the South Morang line to Mernda, and additional services on the Hurstbridge and Dandenong lines following the completion of the Hurstbridge line update and level crossing removals between Caulfield and Dandenong
  • $60 million for the construction of more than 2,000 extra car parking spaces at metropolitan stations
  • $50 million for detailed planning of a fast train to Geelong integrated with an Airport Rail Link in Melbourne’s west
  • $16.9 million for safety and security initiatives across the Victorian public transport network, including safer bus stops and new CCTV
  • $16.3 million to make tram stops and train stations more accessible for people living with disability at Watergardens and Essendon stations
  • $3 million for light rail connection between Caulfield and Rowville that will link Caulfield Station to Monash University’s Clayton campus via Chadstone Shopping Centre
  • $1 million to develop a business case for active transport and tram connections between Fishermans Bend and the CBD

Investments in regional rail projects

This budget includes $704 million in investment for public transport in regional areas of the state, including:

  • $313 million to for Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade
  • $189 million to provide additional stabling and train maintenance facilities to support the state’s growing VLocity fleet
  • $130 million for regional rail infrastructure upgrades from Maryborough and Ararat to Ballarat
  • $26.2 million for V/Line services to ensure the sustainability of regional rail, and improve reliability and punctuality
  • $22.2 million for extra regional bus services and infrastructure works across the regional bus network
  • $10.8 million for additional regional rail services, including additional inter-peak and shoulder peak services to and from our regional cities

For more information on some of the projects that received funding visit the Infrastructure homepage. For the full Victorian Government’s 2018/19 Budget announcements across all sectors, visit www.budget.vic.gov.au.

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