THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP MINISTER FOR CITIES, URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND POPULATION JANE HUME SENATOR FOR VICTORIA JASON WOOD MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LA TROBE $109 MILLION FOR BUSTING CONGESTION ACROSS MELBOURNE Four new, congestion busting projects across Melbourne totaling $109 million have been given the green light under the Morrison Government’s Urban Congestion Fund. Motorists in the west will be getting home sooner and safer with a $50 million overhaul of the Western Freeway between M80 Ring Road and Ferris Road. Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said the Western Freeway upgrade was another integral addition to the $500 million package of improvements already underway for the M80 Ring Road. “This is a crucial arterial in and out of the city, and these improvements will mean a smoother, quicker and easier trip for people travelling it every day,” Mr Tudge said. “People are sick of being stuck in traffic, they want to spend time doing what’s important to them, and these projects will help make that happen.” Senator for Victoria Jane Hume said the announcement of the projects took the total commitment from the Urban Congestion Fund in Melbourne to $520.3 million. “Under a Morrison Government, all across this great city, we will see game-changing infrastructure that will benefit everyone, no matter where they live,” Senator Hume said. In addition, a $40 million upgrade to the Clyde Road intersection along the Monash Freeway has been locked in – meaning drastically improved access for motorists on and off the freeway. Included in the work will be the addition of a dedicated cycling lane over the Monash Freeway. This will be complemented by an additional $10 million upgrade to the Clyde Road intersection at Kangan Drive, to improve safety and reduce congestion for the thousands of travelers who pass through the intersection daily. Member for La Trobe Jason Woods said Clyde Road is currently used by tens of thousands of vehicle a day – with that number predicted to grow. “This is one of the fastest growing corridors in the country and we need this investment in order to make sure people can get the most out of each and every day,” Mr Woods said. A further $9 million will go towards upgrades at each end of Henderson Road – at Kellett’s Road in Rowville and Ferntree Gully Road in Knoxfield. Both intersections will be reconfigured while the Kellett’s Road upgrade includes the inclusion of traffic lights. The funding will also support the Henderson Road Bridge Project, which is currently under construction. The projects are in addition to the more than $27 billion record investment committed to road and rail infrastructure across Victoria. This includes $5 billion for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and $2 billion for Fast Rail for Melbourne to Geelong. 18 April 2019 Media Contact: Coalition Campaign Headquarters: T: (07) 3557 7533 / E: [email protected] Authorised by A. Hirst, Liberal Party of Australia, Canberra .