Drivers in Epping are a step closer to a safer and less congested drive on Childs Road with three builders now shortlisted to build the Andrews Labor Government's massive Suburban Roads Upgrade.
Access Arterial, Connecting Melbourne and Netflow have been shortlisted to submit tenders to upgrade 14 key roads as part of the $2.2 billion northern and south eastern packages of the Suburban Roads Upgrades.
The Labor Government is making the biggest investment in suburban roads in Victoria's history by undertaking 14 projects to upgrade the arterial roads across Melbourne's outer north and south-east that need it most.
On Childs Road, an extra lane will be added in each direction between Beaumont Crescent and Prince of Wales Avenue to boost capacity and reduce congestion.
The roundabout at Bowman Drive will be replaced by traffic lights to improve traffic flow, a new bridge will be built over Darebin Creek to cater for the duplicated Childs Road and a new walking and cycling path will be constructed.
These upgrades will reduce congestion and bring down travel times, while boosting safety and connecting communities across our growing outer north and south-east suburbs.
With work already underway on the Western Roads Upgrade, the record $4 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade will improve 22 priority roads across Melbourne's outer west, north and south-eastern suburbs.
These important upgrades are being overseen by the Major Road Projects Authority – a new, dedicated authority established to deliver a pipeline of major road upgrades and projects across Melbourne and Victoria.
The consortia will now submit tenders to carry out the northern and south-eastern packages of the Suburban Roads Upgrade as detailed planning, design and community consultation continues.
As stated by Minister for Roads and Road Safety Luke Donnellan
"We're getting on with delivering key upgrades to roads across Melbourne's outer suburbs – with construction already underway in Melbourne's west and, now, three consortia bidding to get on with the two remaining packages in Melbourne's south-east and north."
"Drivers will be the big winners as we push on with delivering these key projects – and get on with delivering billions of dollars of road upgrades across Melbourne."
As stated by Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny
"Childs Road is a vital connection for the northern suburbs – widening it will slash congestion and reduce travel times for more than 25,000 drivers who rely on it every day."
"Whether it's the Childs Road Upgrade, Epping Road Upgrade, widening the Ring Road or the work currently underway on Plenty Road and O'Herns Road – it's clear that only labor will invest in the road upgrades our community needs."
