Victorias first ever freeway, the Maltby Bypass, is set for a major redevelopment with the second major contract awarded for the upgrading of Geelong Road.
Acting Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, and Victorias Minister for Transport, Peter Batchelor, jointly announced the awarding of a $33 million contract to the Walter Construction Group.
"With works now underway at the Geelong-end of the freeway, this contract which encompasses the bypass of Werribee, will begin soon," Mr Costello said.
"Federal funding for Geelong Road meets national economic transport objectives. The route carries six million tonnes of freight annually, much of this destined for export markets.
"Major industry groups operating in the area including Shell and Ford Australia, stand to benefit significantly from the joint funding. Emerging industries, such as the export of perishable produce from Avalon Airport will be assisted also.
Benefits worth four dollars will flow from every one dollar spent widening Geelong Road. Travel time and fuel efficiency savings alone will be of the order of $50 million annually.
"More than 4000 direct and indirect jobs will be created.
"This is a significant next step in completing Victorias latest Road of National Importance (RONI) project, Mr Costello said.
Mr Costello said the Commonwealth was committed to ensuring the project was delivered in as timely a manner as possible and he wanted to ensure the community received the earliest possible benefits.
"Transformation of Victorias first freeway, which opened in 1961 to bypass the then rural town of Werribee, will be a major step in enhancing the road safety and national economic returns from the Geelong Road Project.
"Back then the original four-lane bypass carried about 8,000 vehicles per day. Today more than 40,000 vehicles travel this route every day, including many thousands of trucks and heavy transports.
"A modern high-standard route is vital with road transport operators carrying manufactured goods and export produce from Geelong and locally, as many nationally important industries are based in and around the thriving City of Wyndham, which encompasses Werribee," Mr Costello said.
Mr Batchelor said that the upgraded Maltby Bypass, which was originally named after the then Minister for Public Works, Sir Thomas Maltby, will be reconstructed to provide three lanes in each direction.
"The new road surface will give a smoother and safer ride and the existing freeway curves will also be improved.
"Wire rope safety barriers will be used in the median along the full 8.6 km length of the Maltby Bypass to prevent cross median accidents," said Mr Batchelor.
"Landscaping will also be an important part of the Project to create a new and interesting journey for highway travellers, which will help combat the high number of fatigue-related crashes.
"The landscaping plan will include feature markings on fencing and road shoulders to identify local landmarks such as Victorias Open Range Zoo at Werribee.
"The Geelong Road upgrading is a key project in the Bracks Governments Linking Victoria program which is generating a $1.5 billion investment in vital transport infrastructure over the next three years," Mr Batchelor said.
Mr Costello said the work to begin soon on the Maltby Bypass, is the next step in the two-and-a-half year project to provide a safer and more efficient freeway between Geelong and Melbourne.
"With both governments committed to the project and planning largely completed, the reconstructed Geelong Road is scheduled for completion in mid-2002," he said.
"The Geelong Road will build further upon the jobs and growth created in recent years as a result of major private and public transport infrastructure investment in Victoria," Mr Costello said.