Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — (12 134) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and I ask: can the minister please provide Yuroke residents with an update on the progress of the CityLink-Tullamarine Freeway widening works and what benefits they can expect when the much-needed project is completed? As a long-term resident of Melbourne’s north I am well aware of the bottlenecks that can cause frustrating delays when travelling in and out of the city centre at peak times. No-one likes to sit in traffic, especially when the problem continues to get worse as the north’s population rises. That is why I was thrilled when the Andrews Labor government got to work immediately on increasing capacity on this vital road. Anyone who uses the Tullamarine Freeway or the roads around it will know that significant progress is being made, and I am sure Yuroke residents would welcome an update from the minister.

Response:

The CityLink Tulla Widening project will increase capacity of the CityLink-Tullamarine Freeway by up to 30 percent, reducing travel times by up to 16 minutes in the morning peak period and 17 minutes in the afternoon.

A freeway management system will provide more reliable and consistent travel times through ramp metering, variable message signs, CCTV and automatic incident detection systems.

The project has made strong progress corridor-wide since construction began in October 2015.

A number of milestones have been met during this time, including the opening of a new entry ramp at Bulla Road in November.

The first two stages of the West Gate Freeway upgrade are now finished, with final works due for completion late next year.

At the Bell Street interchange, a 275-metre bridge is currently being built, connecting Bell Street to Pascoe Vale Road.

All five bridge columns are now complete and construction crews have moved onto the next major stage of works, which involves connecting these columns to each other by installing steel beams to support the new road. By the end of the year, 31 bridge beams will have been fitted into place ahead of bridge deck building activities. It is anticipated that construction of this bridge will be complete in June 2017.

Over summer, English Street Bridge will be rebuilt to increase capacity to Essendon Fields and accommodate the wider freeway underneath. After a 23-day closure, the new bridge will open to traffic in late January.

Yuroke residents can stay up to date with the project’s progress by visiting citylinktullawidening.vic.gov.au.

Hon Luke Donnellan MP
Minister for Roads and Road Safety