By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
EXTRA lanes will be added to the Monash Freeway in Melbourne’s outer south-east, with plans for a $400 million upgrade to the major arterial unveiled by the State Government on the weekend.
Under the proposal, announced on Sunday following weeks of speculation, the freeway will be widened to five lanes running each way between EastLink and the South Gippsland Highway, and three lanes each way further out to Clyde Road.
Premier Daniel Andrews joined Roads Minister Luke Donnellan and Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley on Sunday morning in Hallam to announce the project, which is expected to go to tender in mid-2016, with construction slated to begin in 2017, and expected to be finished the following year.
Roads Minister Luke Donnellan confirmed Labor would look to “partner” with the Federal Government to fund the upgrade, with some media outlets reporting they were looking for the Commonwealth to chip in as much as half of the estimated cost.
But Mr Donnellan wouldn’t specify how much would be sought from his Federal counterparts.
In October it was reported how the Turnbull Government was believed to have agreed to unlock the $1.5 billion East West Link money allocated to the State Government, provided it will be used on projects like the Monash Freeway.
“This is a $400 million upgrade and we’ll be looking to partner with the Commonwealth on this and many other major projects across Victoria,” Mr Donnellan said on Monday.
“The government will proceed with the Monash Upgrade regardless of the outcome of the market-led proposal, which is expected to be announced by the end of the year.”
La Trobe MP Jason Wood thanked the State Government for making the Monash commitment but questioned why construction wouldn’t start until 2017, claiming the Andrews Government could already access the $1.5 billion in Federal funding.
“The $1.5 billion is already with the State Labor Government, this is totally unacceptable to start work in 2017, I have been told via sources that work could start early next year, especially the traffic management,” he said.
“ … there is $1.5 billion of federal funding which, in part, will go towards the project, so only state Labor is holding back with funding.”
With the freeway construction to start the same year as the previously announced Pakenham rail corridor upgrade – 2017 – concerns have been raised about traffic congestion.
Mr Donnellan admitted there would be “some disruptions and inconvenience to residents during the construction phase” but added the government would “manage the disruption as best we can to minimise any inconvenience.”
