• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Friday, May 9, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
  • Ports
  • Rail
  • Roads
  • Airport
  • Utilities
  • Urban
  • State by state
    • NSW
    • NT
    • QLD
    • SA
    • TAS
    • VIC
    • WA
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
  • News
  • Ports
  • Rail
  • Roads
  • Airport
  • Utilities
  • Urban
  • State by state
    • NSW
    • NT
    • QLD
    • SA
    • TAS
    • VIC
    • WA
  • Events
No Results
View All Results
Home

Don’t build new roads, fix old ones

by Jessica Dickers
July 6, 2016
in News, Roads, Safety and Training, VIC
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The majority of Victorians believe infrastructure development should focus on improving existing roads, rather than building new ones, a VicRoads survey has found.

VicRoads Chief Executive John Merritt said the survey of 2,300 Victorian road users also found that while cars were viewed as the most convenient way of getting around, public transport and cycling were seen as increasingly important for the state’s future.

“Only 16 per cent of people felt new roads were the answer when asked if it was important to build new roads or increase capacity on existing roads,” Mr Merritt said.

“That’s compared to around half who agreed it was more important to focus on making the existing road network more efficient.

“Our priority is to get the greatest number of people through Melbourne’s road network in the safest and most efficient way possible, helping them to get wherever they need to go.”

The survey found young people aged 18-29 years are significantly more likely to walk or cycle and use public transport, with a third of Victorians more likely to walk if it was safer and easier to cross main roads.

Mr Merritt said on average, people were prepared to walk for 19 minutes and cycle for 23 minutes to get to where they need to before they turn to their cars or public transport.

“This is really encouraging because we want more people to walk, cycle and use public transport more frequently,” Mr Merritt said.

“We are experiencing a growing population, particularly in Melbourne, and we have to be smarter about the roads we already have so that we can move people around more efficiently.

“We know the answer to congestion isn’t to simply build more roads; it’s about making a range of transport options attractive to Victorians; driving, cycling, walking and public transport via trams, buses and rail.”

The survey was completed in mid-2015, with a new survey to be conducted in mid-2016.

The report also found that 82 per cent of people were satisfied with arterial roads across all areas of the state while 47 per cent of people expressed concern at congestion.

More than 40 per cent of people who live within three kilometres of their local services in Melbourne or regional centres say they would be encouraged to cycle if more on-road and off-road safe cycle paths or bike lanes were provided.

Also, 64 per cent of respondents were satisfied with public transport, with dissatisfaction due to unreliability and cancellations, overcrowding, infrequent services/timetables and danger.

Related Posts

Image: Infrastructure NT

Darwin ship lift update: $10.8M contract, local firms benefit

by Tim Hall
May 9, 2025

The Darwin Ship Lift Facility has hit a series of significant construction milestones. Recent updates indicate steady progress on the...

Visualisation of the new station forecourt and entrance from Railway Street

Inland Rail works pick up steam

by Tim Hall
May 9, 2025

Inland Rail has kicked off major upgrades on eight key sites between Beveridge and Albury, marking a new phase for...

Image: Brian/stock.adobe.com

WA water works plugged

by Tim Hall
May 8, 2025

Major WA industrial sites have been awarded for their water-saving efforts. Industrial precincts in Perth's Hazelmere and Henderson have been...

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Infrastructure is an industry-leading magazine that brings together asset owners, statutory bodies, consulting engineers and first-tier contractors to explore the biggest news and issues across the infrastructure industry. Infrastructure is integrated across print and online and covers the latest in road, rail, airports, ports, utility and urban infrastructure.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Infrastructure

  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Projects
  • Transport
  • Civil Construction
  • Roads
  • Rail
  • Spotlight
  • Planning

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
  • Ports
  • Rail
  • Roads
  • Airport
  • Utilities
  • Urban
  • State by state
    • NSW
    • NT
    • QLD
    • SA
    • TAS
    • VIC
    • WA
  • Events
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited