Release Date: 2008-07-10
Original Link: http://presszoom.com/story_145277.html
Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas today announced a $1.6 million funding boost to upgrade two intersections along Werribee Street at Cottrell Street and Geelong Road in Wyndham. Mr Pallas said the Brumby Government was taking action to improve the road network in the western suburbs and upgrading these intersections was the first step toward meeting the area’s long-term transport needs.
(PressZoom.com) - Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas today announced a $1.6 million funding boost to upgrade two intersections along Werribee Street at Cottrell Street and Geelong Road in Wyndham.
Mr Pallas said the Brumby Government was taking action to improve the road network in the western suburbs and upgrading these intersections was the first step toward meeting the area’s long-term transport needs.
“This funding boost will provide better access to the Werribee Town Centre, improve safety and allow for more efficient traffic flow in the area,” Mr Pallas said.
“The upgrades will deliver an additional northbound lane on Werribee Street over the rail line, and extending the current left turn lane on Geelong Road at the Werribee Street intersection.”
Member for Lara, John Eren, said the project would benefit local commuters and compliments funding to construct the McGrath Road extension announced previously by Wyndham Council.
“The intersection upgrade will benefit the bus services to and from the Werribee Town Centre and access to the Werribee train station. This will encourage greater patronage of public transport by the local community,” Mr Eren said.
The funding announcement comes as Mr Pallas released the Werribee Street-Cottrell Street Planning Study, which outlines a number of short, medium and long-term projects to enhance the transport network in Werribee and Wyndham Vale.
Improvements to Werribee Street and McGrath Road were recommended in the study as well as the duplication of Heaths Rd/Bolton Rd, the establishment of Armstrong Road and the construction of Duncans Road ramps at the Princes Freeway.
Mr Pallas said that VicRoads had completed a design review for westerly ramps on the Princes Freeway at Duncans Road in line with the planning study’s recommendations.
“The public acquisition overlay now in place will ensure we maintain a reservation to allow for future construction of on-ramps and off-ramps at Duncans Road,” Mr Pallas said.
“We are taking action on the short-term priority projects identified in the planning study and further improvements, such as Armstrong Road will be considered following the completion of the Government’s response to Sir Rod Eddington’s east-west report.”
Mr Pallas thanked the Wyndham City Council and the community for their contributions to the planning study and for highlighting these intersection improvements as important for the local area.
“We have listened to the community and are delivering on our commitment to improve the safety and efficiency of our road network,” Mr Pallas said.
Design and planning works for the Werribee Street-Cottrell Street upgrade are already underway, with construction works expected to begin early next year.